Meaning of conscience money | Babel Free

Definitions

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

idiomatic, uncountable

Examples

“The Secretary of the Treasury is almost daily in receipt of installments of conscience-money, which the perturbed moral sense⟳ of a guilty office-holder or other defrauder of the government suggests the payment of in order⟳ to obtain⟳ "a still and quiet conscience."”

“"Whatever I've done, I've always been criticized. . . . If I donated to a church, it was called conscience money; and if I didn't donate to it, they said I was mean⟳ and miserly."”

“Other US companies, keen to be seen making the politically correct⟳ investment now, are bringing ‘conscience money’ to the new South Africa.”

“He described the aid work⟳ done by religious missions as "conscience money" to make⟳ up for the harm⟳ they have⟳ done.”

CEFR level