# conscience money

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/conscience-money
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Money which is voluntarily paid by a party who feels guilt, and seeks to provide compensation, for some past misdeed or negligence.

## Examples

- He sent conscience money to the store for the candy he stole.
- After realizing he had underpaid his taxes years ago, he sent a check to the government as conscience money.
- The anonymous donor sent a large sum of conscience money to the charity, hoping to atone for the unethical business practices that defined his early career.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
