conflict of interest
Americannoun
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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.
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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.
Etymology
Origin of conflict of interest
First recorded in 1950–55
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The presence of Dhillon — a San Francisco attorney and Republican party insider who has been talked about as a potential pick for attorney general — could also present a conflict of interest, experts said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
In contrast to all other members of the executive branch, the federal criminal conflict of interest statute doesn’t apply to the president and vice president, nor to members of Congress, Painter said.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
"Multiple trustees" - including former chief executive Gordon Taylor - held salaried senior PFA roles, creating a conflict of interest.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
The move comes after Victoria’s Secret’s board twice rejected Blundy’s candidacy, concluding that his appointment would introduce “serious reputational, legal, conflict of interest and governance risks.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026
Fitzsimmons would certainly have avoided this conflict of interest.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
