conflict of interest
noun
the circumstance of a public officeholder, business executive, or the like, whose personal interests might benefit from his or her official actions or influence: The senator placed his stocks in trust to avoid possible conflict of interest.
the circumstance of a person who finds that one of his or her activities, interests, etc., can be advanced only at the expense of another of them.
Origin of conflict of interest
First recorded in 1950–55
Words nearby conflict of interest
conflagrant,
conflagration,
conflate,
conflation,
conflict,
conflict of interest,
conflict of laws,
conflicted,
conflicting,
confluence,
confluence of sinuses
Cultural definitions for conflict of interest
conflict of interest
A situation in which someone who has to make a decision in an official capacity stands to profit personally from the decision. For example, a judge who rules on a case involving a corporation in which he or she owns stock has a conflict of interest.