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conflict of interest
noun phrase
: a conflict between the private interests and the official responsibilities of a person in a position of trust
Examples of conflict of interest in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many also fear the apparent conflict of interest in Musk overseeing the agencies that regulate his companies that have contracts with the government.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 23 Jan. 2025
Trump has pledged to hand management of his assets to his children, but ethics experts have criticized his crypto ventures as raising conflict of interest issues and stoking speculation in a volatile asset class.
—Tom Westbrook, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
While executive branch employees must follow conflict of interest criminal statutes that prevent them from participating in matters that impact their own financial interests, the law does not apply to the president or the vice president.
—Lex Harvey, Auzinea Bacon and Matt Egan, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025
This may represent the single worst conflict of interest in the modern history of the presidency.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1860, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of conflict of interest was
in 1860
Dictionary Entries Near conflict of interest
Cite this Entry
“Conflict of interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflict%20of%20interest. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
Legal Definition
conflict of interest
con·flict of interest
ˈkän-ˌflikt-
1
: a conflict between the private interests and the official or professional responsibilities of a person in a position of trust
2
: a conflict between competing duties (as in an attorney's representation of clients with adverse interests) see also ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct
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