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

The troops’ departure was an economic and social shock for local communities, said Marc von Boemcken, head of research at the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, a think tank.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Conflict in the Middle East, as well as recent signs of a weakening labor market, have only exacerbated those concerns.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

Guest: Steven Feldstein, political scientist and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in the Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program.

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2026

Conflict in the Middle East sparked a global selloff on stock markets and ramped up volatility.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Vogue wanted Daoud in Libya next week for their "Urban Conflict" campaign.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Related Words

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