external conflict

[ ek-stur-nl kon-flikt ]

noun
  1. struggle between a literary or dramatic character and an outside force such as nature or another character, which drives the dramatic action of the plot: external conflict between Macbeth and Macduff.

  2. struggle between a person and an outside force: external conflict between parents and children.

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Origin of external conflict

1
First recorded in 1765–75

Words Nearby external conflict

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use external conflict in a sentence