# conscientious

/ˌkɑnʃiˈɛnʃəs/ (US) · /kˌɒnsɪˈɛnʃəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/conscientious
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. thorough and hardworking

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

working hard and being very careful to do your job or task correctly.

For teachers: characterised by extreme care, thoroughness, and effort in performing tasks.

- A conscientious student always checks their work for mistakes before handing it in.
- The researcher was exceptionally conscientious, documenting every minor variable to ensure the experiment could be replicated by others.

Usage: Typically used to describe workers, students, or the quality of the work itself.

### 2. guided by morals

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

doing what you believe is right and honest, even when it is difficult.

For teachers: governed by or conforming to the dictates of conscience; principled.

- He was a conscientious person who refused to lie, even to protect himself.
- The judge was known for her conscientious approach to the law, always weighing the moral implications of her rulings.

Teaching tip: Often appears in the phrase 'conscientious objector', referring to someone who refuses to join the military for moral reasons.

## Examples

- She is a conscientious student who never misses a deadline.
- The manager praised the new employee for being conscientious and paying close attention to every detail of the report.
- A conscientious approach to research requires not only diligence in data collection but also a rigorous commitment to ethical standards and transparency.

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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.