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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Former House Speaker Charlie Flaherty plead guilty in 1996 to felony tax evasion as well as violating the state conflict of interest law for taking free vacation housing from lobbyists. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 10 Apr. 2026 All five Democrats on the State Board of Education (SBOE) called for an investigation Tuesday into a potential conflict of interest in the development of new, controversial social studies curriculum. Lacey Beasley, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026 Any conflict of interest there? Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026 My recent investigation found that this setup creates an inherent conflict of interest. Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conflict of interest

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of conflict of interest was in 1860

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conflict of interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflict%20of%20interest. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

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
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