Conscientious
adjective /ˌkɒnʃiˈɛnʃəs/ — Doing the job well because you'd know the difference.
Definition
Wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly; guided by a sense of personal responsibility.
Beyond the definition
Conscientious is the word for the internal standard that doesn't need external enforcement. The conscientious person doesn't cut corners because they would notice — and that's enough.
Origin & history
From Latin conscientia — consciousness, moral sense (con- 'with' + scire 'to know'). Literally: knowing with oneself. Conscience and conscientiousness share the same root.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She was a conscientious editor — every sentence received the same attention, whether it would be noticed or not.
The most conscientious members of any team often carry more than their share quietly.
Being conscientious is a kind of integrity that no one asked for — you just have it or you don't.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Conscientious” when the meaning fits your context: Wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly; guided by a sense of personal responsibility.
Synonyms
diligent, scrupulous, thorough, careful, reliable, principled
Antonyms
careless, irresponsible, negligent, lazy
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Chef Preparing Mise-en-Place
An adult chef at a stainless steel station juliennes vegetables with precise, organized movements in a clean, highly efficient professional kitchen space.
Conscientious means wishing to do one's duty well and thoroughly. The chef’s deep focus on mise-en-place and the meticulous, precise execution of their work illustrates this sense of personal responsibility, as they ensure every action is taken with care, efficiency, and a deep commitment to doing their work right.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Conscientious" mean?
Conscientious is adjective meaning: Doing the job well because you'd know the difference.. Wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly; guided by a sense of personal responsibility.
Where does the word "Conscientious" come from?
From Latin conscientia — consciousness, moral sense (con- 'with' + scire 'to know'). Literally: knowing with oneself. Conscience and conscientiousness share the same root.