conflict of interest

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ˈcon•flict of ˈin•ter•est, n. [countable] , pl. conflicts of interest. 

1. the circumstance in which a public official, corporate officer, etc., might benefit personally from his or her official actions or influence.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con′flict of in′terest, 

1. 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.
2. 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.
• 1950–55