conscience

Universal Words noun 1 [C,U] the part of your mind that tells you whether your actions are right or wrong: to have a clear / guilty conscience (= to feel that you have done right / wrong) * This is a matter of individual conscience (= everyone must make their own judgement about it). * He won't let it trouble his conscience. seealsoSOCIALCONSCIENCE 2 [U,C] a feeling of guilt about sth you have done or failed to do: She was seized by a sudden pang of conscience. * I have a terrible conscience about it. 3 [U] the fact of behaving in a way that you feel is right even though this may cause problems: freedom of conscience (= the freedom to do what you believe to be right) * Emilia is the voice of conscience in the play. seealsoPRISONEROFCONSCIENCE IDIOMS in (all / good) conscience (formal) believing your actions to be fair SYNHONESTLY: We cannot in all conscience refuse to help. on your conscience making you feel guilty for doing or failing to do sth: I'll write and apologize. I've had it on my conscience for weeks. * It's still on my conscience that I didn't warn him in time. moreatPRICKv.