conflict of interest

noun phrase

: a conflict between the private interests and the official responsibilities of a person in a position of trust

Examples of conflict of interest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

State officials terminated that review after an internal investigation found Spesshardt failed to report a conflict of interest. —Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 31 May 2026

Democrats say that arrangement is a conflict of interest. —Stephen Groves, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026

Trump is his former personal client as well as his present boss; there couldn’t be a more glaring conflict of interest for any lawyer. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026

On Wednesday, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and the Campaign Legal Center, two nonprofits focused on government ethics, wrote that accepting ballroom donations from companies and individuals with business before the government presents a conflict of interest. —Arden Farhi, CBS News, 28 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for conflict of interest

• noninterest

Legal Definition

conflict of interest

con·​flict of interest

ˈkän-ˌflikt-

1

: a conflict between the private interests and the official or professional responsibilities of a person in a position of trust

2

: a conflict between competing duties (as in an attorney's representation of clients with adverse interests) see also ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct