What does conscionable mean?
Conscionable is an adjective describing conduct, prices, or agreements that are honest, fair, and in keeping with conscience. To call something conscionable is to say it would survive moral scrutiny — that no party has been deceived or exploited. Though the word once enjoyed broader everyday use, it has largely retreated into formal and legal registers, where phrases such as 'a conscionable bargain' still appear in discussions of equitable contracts. Its negative counterpart, unconscionable, is much more alive in modern English and frequently denounces outrageous fees or predatory practices. Conscionable derives from conscience, tracing back through Old French to the Latin conscientia, literally 'knowing with' oneself — knowledge shared between one's actions and one's inner sense of right and wrong. For writers seeking a precise, slightly formal way to signal moral fairness, it remains a serviceable if uncommon choice.
adjectiveConforming to what is right, honest, and fair; governed by or agreeable to one's conscience. The word is now rare in general use but survives in legal contexts, where it describes bargains or dealings that are equitable rather than exploitative.
- Morally acceptable; conforming to conscience, honesty, and fairness.
- (Law) Of a bargain or transaction: made in good faith and on fair terms, without exploitation of either party.
"The judge ruled that the contract was conscionable, since both parties had entered it freely and with full knowledge of the terms."
"She refused the inflated fee as a matter of principle, insisting that only a conscionable price would do."
"The court found the terms of the loan conscionable, since the borrower had understood every clause before signing."
Conscionable survives today mostly inside courtrooms, where lawyers still ask whether a bargain was struck fairly — the everyday word 'unfair' has its Latin-rooted twin hiding in this legal relic.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of conscionable
Conscionable derives from conscience, which came into English via Old French from the Latin conscientia, formed from con- ('with') and scire ('to know') — literally 'knowing together with oneself.' The word took the adjectival suffix '-able' and appeared in English usage by the early modern period, alongside its negative form unconscionable. It shares its ultimate root with related English words such as conscious, conscientious, and omniscient.
Related word forms
How conscionable is actually used
Conscionable is now chiefly literary or legal; in ordinary speech, words like fair, honest, or scrupulous are far more common. Its negative form, unconscionable, remains in frequent use and is often heard in criticism of grossly unfair behavior or pricing. In equity law, 'conscionable' traditionally characterizes bargains entered into by parties of comparable understanding, with neither taking unfair advantage of the other.
Easily confused with conscionable
Conscientious means diligent and careful in doing things well, while conscionable means morally fair and honest.
Conscious means awake or aware, whereas conscionable describes conduct that conforms to moral principles.