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

Parker, who serves as the chief of staff at Cook Children’s Hospital, has filed a conflict of interest form disclosing her employment and regularly recuses herself from votes involving city business with the hospital network. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026

The lead author disclosed a conflict of interest involving an ownership stake in a management company that serves an aesthetics clinic, though that clinic doesn’t offer NAD+ infusions. —Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026

The lead author also disclosed a conflict of interest, an ownership stake in a management company serving an aesthetics clinic that doesn’t offer NAD+ infusions. —Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2026

Newsom denied a conflict of interest. —Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 16 June 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