ENGLISH
REFERENCE

conscientious

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌkɑnʃiˈɛnʃəs// UK //kˌɒnsɪˈɛnʃəs// con·sci·en·tious

adj. working hard and being very careful to do things the right way. A person like this feels a strong sense of duty to do their job well.

adj. governed by or conforming to the dictates of conscience; meticulous and careful in the execution of duties. Often used to describe professional or academic conduct.


SIMPLE

She is a conscientious student who never misses a deadline.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager praised the new employee for being conscientious and paying close attention to every detail of the report.

COMPLEX

A conscientious approach to research requires not only diligence in data collection but also a rigorous commitment to ethical standards and transparency.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle French conscientieux, from Medieval Latin cōnscientiōsus. Its English equivalent could possibly be analyzed as conscient + -ous. See more at conscience.

Usage

Typically used to describe people or their work habits; often follows linking verbs like 'be' or 'become'.

Pitfall

He is very conscious about his workHe is very conscientious about his workLearners often confuse 'conscious' (awake/aware) with 'conscientious' (hardworking/careful).

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