Conscience

noun

/ˈkɒn.ʃəns/

The inner sense of moral awareness that guides a person's judgement of the rightness or wrongness of their own conduct, intentions, and character, accompanied by a feeling of obligation to act rightly.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

A civil servant guided by conscience will, in moments of moral conflict, place constitutional values and public interest above the convenience of obeying an unethical directive.

Synonyms

moral sensescruplessense of right and wrongethical compassinner voiceprinciples

Antonyms

amoralitycallousnessshamelessnessruthlessness

🌱 Word Family

conscience (n), conscientious (adj), conscientiously (adv), conscientiousness (n), unconscionable (adj)

🔡 Root

Latin com- = together + scire = to know → conscire → conscientia = moral awareness; via Old French (13th c.)

📜 Etymology

From Latin conscientia ("knowledge within oneself, moral sense"), from conscire ("to know, to be conscious"), combining com- ("together") + scire ("to know"); probably a loan-translation of Greek syneidesis ("with-knowledge"); entered English via Old French conscience in the 13th century.

🧠 Memory Hook

CON + SCIENCE = "with knowing" (Latin con- "with" + scire "to know"): conscience is the inner knowing of right from wrong.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Mains 2023 · GS4 · 10 marks — Foundations of Ethics
Mains 2021 · GS4 · 10 marks — Emotional Intelligence
Mains 2020 · GS4 · 10 marks — Foundations of Ethics
Mains 2019 · GS4 · 10 marks — Foundations of Ethics

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Conscience” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

🧭 Ethics & Integrity 📖 Seen in: Emotional Intelligence — EQ in Governa...

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