conflict of interest

American  

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of conflict of interest

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

That is meant to avoid potential conflicts of interest where financial interests could cloud policy decisions.

From The Wall Street Journal

You could not design a more direct conflict of interest.

From Salon

A spokesperson for Magnum said it had found "a series of material deficiencies in financial controls, governance and other compliance policies, including conflicts of interest".

From BBC

According to the EPPO, the three were formally told of the allegations against them: "the accusations concern procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy."

From BBC

Police on Saturday also detained student Miles Kwan, who called for a probe into any conflicts of interest or regulatory neglect that contributed to the fire, among other demands in a petition to the government.

From The Wall Street Journal