Moral compass

n.thoughtful, kindwarm

What it means

An internal framework that guides judgments about right and wrong.

Reach for it when describing durable ethical orientation when choices remain difficult or socially costly

Her moral compass kept the procurement decision focused on fairness and public need.

playful
north star
one stable ideal provides memorable direction
not when North star simplifies moral conflict to a single goal and can become slogan-like.
everyday
conscience
inner judgment produces approval, guilt, or restraint
not when Conscience is a faculty or feeling, while a moral compass suggests an orienting framework.
everyday
values
deep priorities shape what a person chooses
not when Values include taste and ambition and are not automatically moral.
warm
integrity
conduct remains aligned with stated moral commitments
not when Integrity describes consistency, not the guidance used to choose among commitments.
professional
guiding ethic
one ethical commitment organizes a body of work
not when A guiding ethic is usually explicit and narrower than an overall moral compass.
professional
principles
explicit commitments guide repeated decisions
not when Principles can be unethical or rigid unless their content is named.
formal
ethical sense
someone perceives moral stakes with reasonable sensitivity
not when Ethical sense is vague and may not translate into consistent action.

strong moral compass
A strong moral compass led him to disclose the conflict before voting.
serve as a moral compass
The patients' own priorities should serve as a moral compass for the program.
lose one's moral compass
An organization can lose its moral compass when targets replace human outcomes.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.