conflict

[ verb kuhn-flikt; noun kon-flikt ]

/ verb kənˈflɪkt; noun ˈkɒn flɪkt /

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verb (used without object)

to come into collision or disagreement; be contradictory, at variance, or in opposition; clash: The account of one eyewitness conflicted with that of the other. My class conflicts with my going to the concert.

to fight or contend; do battle.

noun

a fight, battle, or struggle, especially a prolonged struggle; strife.

controversy; quarrel: conflicts between parties.

discord of action, feeling, or effect; antagonism or opposition, as of interests or principles: a conflict of ideas.

a striking together; collision.

incompatibility or interference, as of one idea, desire, event, or activity with another: a conflict in the schedule.

Psychiatry. a mental struggle arising from opposing demands or impulses.

Nearby words

conflagrant, conflagrate, conflagration, conflate, conflation, conflict, conflict of interest, conflict of laws, conflicted, conflicting, conflictual

Origin of conflict

1375–1425; late Middle English (noun) < Latin conflīctus a striking together, equivalent to conflīg(ere) to strike together, contend (con- con- + flīgere to strike) + -tus suffix of v. action; (v.) < Latin conflīctus, past participle of conflīgere, or by v. use of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR conflict

1 collide, oppose.

3 encounter, siege.

5 contention, opposition.

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ANTONYMS FOR conflict

4 accord.

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Related forms

con·flic·tion, nouncon·flic·tive, con·flic·to·ry

[kuhn-flik-tuh-ree] /kənˈflɪk tə ri/, adjectivenon·con·flic·tive, adjectivepre·con·flict, verb (used without object)

pre·con·flict, nounself-con·flict, nounun·con·flic·tive, adjective

Synonym study

3. See fight.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for conflict

The two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is dead.
In the Middle East, the Two-State Solution Is Dead|Dean Obeidallah|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
World War II is still a long way off, but the seeds of conflict are already being sown on the continent.
What Downton’s Fashion Really Means|Katie Baker|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
So here we are with Abbas being the only one of three parties to this conflict still fighting for a two-state solution.
In the Middle East, the Two-State Solution Is Dead|Dean Obeidallah|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Plus, expect outside players to take actions related to the conflict.
In the Middle East, the Two-State Solution Is Dead|Dean Obeidallah|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The current conflict it fuels is now poised to last long into the new year.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Napoleon still kept his troops at Gaeta, but was finally brought to see that the conflict could only end in the one way.
Builders of United Italy|Rupert Sargent Holland
Till then the Californians had been merely spectators of the conflict.
Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet|Captain Marryat
Tad, after he had donned his clothes, returned to the scene of the conflict.
The Pony Rider Boys in New England|Frank Gee Patchin
Advancing to the attack, the janissaries burst through the mass of Turks still continuing the conflict, and rushed up the breach.
A Knight of the White Cross|G.A. Henty
Thus the conflict between Russia and England, which the Prince desired, had been relegated far into the future.
The Kaiser's Memoirs|William II, German Emperor

British Dictionary definitions for conflict

conflict

noun (ˈkɒnflɪkt)

a struggle or clash between opposing forces; battle

a state of opposition between ideas, interests, etc; disagreement or controversy

a clash, as between two appointments made for the same time

psychol opposition between two simultaneous but incompatible wishes or drives, sometimes leading to a state of emotional tension and thought to be responsible for neuroses

verb (kənˈflɪkt) (intr)

to come into opposition; clash

to fight

Derived Formsconfliction, nounconflictive or conflictory, adjective

Word Origin for conflict

C15: from Latin conflictus, from conflīgere to combat, from flīgere to strike

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for conflict (1 of 2)

conflict

early 15c., from Latin conflictus, past participle of confligere "to strike together, be in conflict," from com- "together" (see com-) + fligere "to strike" (see afflict). Related: Conflicted; conflicting.

Word Origin and History for conflict (1 of 2)

conflict

early 15c., "armed encounter, battle," from Old French conflit and directly from Latin conflictus (see conflict (v.)). Meaning "struggle, quarrel" is from mid-15c. Psychological sense of "incompatible urges in one person" is from 1859 (hence conflicted, past participle adjective). Phrase conflict of interest was in use by 1743.

Medicine definitions for conflict

conflict

[ kŏn′flĭkt′ ]

n.

A psychic struggle between opposing or incompatible impulses, desires, or tendencies.

conflict

verb (used without object)

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of conflict

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for conflict

British Dictionary definitions for conflict

conflict

noun (ˈkɒnflɪkt)

verb (kənˈflɪkt) (intr)

Word Origin for conflict

Word Origin and History for conflict (1 of 2)

conflict

Word Origin and History for conflict (1 of 2)

conflict

Medicine definitions for conflict

conflict

n.