conflict of interest

noun

1. the circumstance of a public officeholder, business executive, or the like, whose personal interests might benefit from their official actions or influence:

   The senator placed his stocks in trust to avoid possible conflict of interest.

2. the circumstance of a person who finds that one of their own activities, interests, etc., can be advanced only at the expense of another of them.

Word History and Origins

Origin of conflict of interest¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Wakefield was later found to have financial conflicts of interest and the UK's General Medical Council found that he falsified his results.

From BBC

Wolff's lawsuit follows a conflict of interest inquiry into the Wolffs that was launched and abandoned within the space of two days in December 2023.

From BBC

The PAC warned of a "gap in accountability to parliament" over the money lent to rugby union, due to "a conflict of interest" involving a senior civil servant's connections with the sport.

From BBC

He nodded to concerns about Musk's visit to the Pentagon, which is drawing scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest, saying "you wouldn't show it to a businessman".

From BBC

But it’s far from his only conflict of interest.

From Salon