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

He says he left the business to avoid any conflicts of interest when he became Datasection’s CEO.

From Barron's

Nonbanks, including technology firms, have been allowed to do business that closely resembles banking, with no constraints on manifold conflicts of interest.

From Barron's

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