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

The defense attorneys alleged a conflict of interest and said Willis profited from the case when Wade used his earnings to pay for vacations the pair took. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2025

In more recent years, sitting secretaries of state from both parties sought reelection to their posts as chief elections officers without raising widespread concerns of a conflict of interest. —Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 13 Nov. 2025

Either way, the tweet created a conflict of interest in the Twitter-sphere that felt ill-advised at best. —Pete Sampson, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025

Its conflict of interest office, which did not return calls or emails about the matter, is responsible for reviewing these disclosures to ensure that there are no violations of government regulations or university policy. —Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Nov. 2025

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