conflict

American  

[kuhn-flikt, kon-flikt] / kənˈflɪkt, ˈkɒn flɪkt /

verb (used without object)

1. 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.

   Synonyms:

   oppose, collide

2. to fight or contend; do battle.

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noun

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

   Synonyms:

   siege, encounter

2. controversy; quarrel.

   conflicts between parties.

   Antonyms:

   accord

3. discord of action, feeling, or effect; antagonism or opposition, as of interests or principles.

   a conflict of ideas.

   Synonyms:

   opposition, contention

4. a striking together; collision.

5. incompatibility or interference, as of one idea, desire, event, or activity with another.

   a conflict in the schedule.

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

conflict British  

noun

1. a struggle or clash between opposing forces; battle

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

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

4. 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

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verb

1. to come into opposition; clash

2. to fight

Related Words

See fight.

Other Word Forms

• confliction
  noun
• conflictive
  adjective
• conflictory
  adjective
• nonconflictive
  adjective
• preconflict
  noun
• preconflict
  verb (used without object)
• self-conflict
  noun
• unconflictive
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of conflict

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English (noun), from Latin conflīctus “a striking together,” equivalent to conflīg(ere) “to strike together, contend” ( con- con- + flīgere “to strike”) + -tus suffix of verb action; (verb) from Latin conflīctus, past participle of conflīgere, or by verb use of the noun

Explanation

A conflict is a struggle or an opposition. If you and your best friend both fall in love with the same person, you will have to find some way to resolve the conflict. Conflict comes from the Latin word for striking, but it isn't always violent. Conflict can arise from opposing ideas. If you want to turn your empty lot into a community garden but your wife envisions a shooting range, you have a conflict. If you're torn between two different desires, you're conflicted. Conflict can also be a verb. If you schedule a dentist appointment that conflicts with a meeting, you'll have to cancel one of them.

Example Sentences

For the president, the explanation for missing it ensured that even a private celebration became part of a broader public narrative shaped by governance, conflict, and constant media attention.

From Salon • May 23, 2026

“Ukraine has shown leadership not just in the war against Russia, but also in the global conflict that now involves the Middle East.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

Travel also is being hampered by higher airfares and gas prices due to the conflict in Iran.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

A ceasefire on April 8 halted the conflict, but negotiation efforts, including historic face to face talks hosted in Islamabad have so far failed to yield a lasting agreement.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Hume, in distinguishing relations of ideas from matters of fact, is recapitulating the fundamental intellectual conflict which gave rise to the Scientific Revolution.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• battle
• clash
• combat
• competition
• rivalry
• strife
• struggle
• war