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

Last year, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee wrote to White House border czar Tom Homan, raising concern that Venturella's return to ICE to oversee contracts that would go to companies like Geo Group, his previous employer, presented a conflict of interest. —Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 12 May 2026

McCain also claimed that neither body addressed that Hatcher was receiving GSD compensation nearly a year before her appointment as executive director, and the conflict of interest disclosure filings are not in the state database. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026

Hagen has denied a conflict of interest, however, stating that her last involvement in the redistricting case was in October 2024, KUTV reported. —Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026

Price, who has represented the district since 2013, faces a dozen felony charges, including grand theft by embezzlement of public funds, conflict of interest and perjury. —Teresa Liu, Daily News, 9 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