conflict

1.nounB1

Definition

A state of tension that arises when people or groups hold different views or principles and cannot reach an agreement.

Example

Ramón had a conflict with his partner over how to spend company profits.

conflict with [someone] over [topic]

The ongoing conflict between the two political parties has delayed every new law this year.

conflict between [groups]

Common collocations

resolve a conflict
avoid conflict
lead to conflict
cause conflict

Synonyms

disagreement
more neutral and less intense; any difference of opinion
dispute
more formal, often about a specific issue or fact
clash
more sudden and direct, often involving strong emotions
friction
ongoing low-level tension rather than a single confrontation

Antonyms

agreement
the state of sharing the same opinion or reaching a common understanding

Common Mistakes

They had a conflict about where to eat dinner.

They had a disagreement about where to eat dinner.

'conflict' suggests a deeper or longer-lasting opposition, not a small everyday difference.

She is in conflict with her brother for the toy.

She is arguing with her brother over the toy.

For minor quarrels between individuals, 'argue' or 'fight' is more natural than 'conflict'.

2.nounB2

Definition

a period or situation in which two or more countries, armies, or large groups use weapons against each other.

Example

The armed conflict between the two countries forced thousands of families to abandon their homes.

armed conflict

A peace agreement finally ended twelve years of violent conflict in the region last spring.

Common collocations

armed conflict
military conflict
end a conflict
enter a conflict
conflict zone

Synonyms

war
a sustained, large-scale conflict between countries, usually officially declared
battle
a single, specific fight within a larger war
hostilities
formal term for acts of war; often used in news reports

Antonyms

peace
a state without fighting or war

Usage Note

This sense typically appears with modifiers like 'armed', 'military', or 'violent'. It is used for group-level or international violence, not for individual fights.

Common Mistakes

Two boys had a conflict in the schoolyard.

Two boys got into a fight in the schoolyard.

'conflict' is usually not used for physical fights between individuals; use 'fight' instead.

3.nounB2

Definition

A condition where two or more ideas, beliefs, feelings, or pieces of information cannot both be correct or coexist at the same time.

Example

There is a conflict between her beliefs and the advertising her company does.

conflict between [two things]

Femi felt inner conflict about going abroad for work or staying near his parents.

inner conflict

Common collocations

inner conflict
direct conflict
conflict between X and Y
in conflict with

Synonyms

contradiction
focuses on logical inconsistency between statements or facts
clash
more dramatic, suggesting active opposition rather than static incompatibility
mismatch
less formal; things that do not fit well together

Antonyms

harmony
a state where things fit together well without contradiction

Common Mistakes

There is a conflict between 2pm and 3pm in my schedule.

There is a scheduling conflict between 2pm and 3pm.

For time clashes, use the modifier 'scheduling' to specify the type of conflict.

4.nounC1

Definition

An ethical problem that arises when a person's private interests or relationships could unfairly influence the decisions they make in a professional role.

Example

A judge must withdraw from a case where a conflict of interest exists.

conflict of interest — fixed legal phrase

The mayor had a conflict of interest because his wife owned shares in the company.

Common collocations

conflict of interest
declare a conflict of interest
disclose a conflict of interest
avoid a conflict of interest

Usage Note

'Conflict of interest' functions as a fixed collocation in legal, business, and government contexts. It is almost always used with the determiners 'a' or 'any', and frequently appears with the verbs 'declare', 'disclose', 'avoid', or 'remove'.

Common Mistakes

There is a conflict of interest between my two meetings.

There is a scheduling conflict between my two meetings.

'conflict of interest' is a specific ethical concept, not a general schedule clash.

If the times conflict of interest, we will reschedule.

If there is a conflict of interest, the lawyer must step down.

'conflict of interest' is a noun phrase, not a verb.

Idioms

conflict of interest(s)

idiom

A situation where a person's personal or financial concerns could unfairly influence their decisions in a job or role.

Maya refused to vote because she had a conflict of interest.

The lawyer disclosed a conflict of interest before taking the case.

1.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

when two or more beliefs, facts, statements, or activities are so different that they cannot both be true or both happen at the intended time.

Example

Takeshi's work schedule often conflicts with his daughter's school plays and sports days.

conflict with [something]

The two medical studies conflict, so the team plans to run another experiment.

two things conflict (no preposition)

Common collocations

conflict with
conflict over

Synonyms

contradict
stronger and more direct — one statement actively denies another
clash
less formal, suggests a sharper and more noticeable opposition
differ
softer — simply not being the same, without implying incompatibility

Antonyms

match
to be the same or consistent with something
agree
to share the same opinion or be consistent

Grammar Patterns

conflict + with [something]

Usage Note

This sense is always intransitive — the two items are linked by 'with' or opposed in a 'X and Y conflict' structure. It cannot take a direct object (*'the evidence conflicts the claim').

Common Mistakes

My opinion conflicts to yours.

My opinion conflicts with yours.

'conflict' takes the preposition 'with', not 'to'.

The two stories conflict each other.

The two stories conflict with each other.

'conflict' is intransitive and needs 'with' before the second noun.

2.verbintransitiveC1

Definition

to engage in active fighting or heated disagreement with someone, often over a long period or about an important issue.

Example

The two brothers have been conflicting over their father's property since the will was read.

conflict over [something]

Neighbouring fishing communities have conflicted with each other over access to the river for decades.

conflict with each other over [something]

Common collocations

conflict with
conflict over

Synonyms

fight
more direct and physical; common in everyday speech
argue
focused on verbal disagreement rather than physical fighting
contend
more formal; to struggle or compete for something

Antonyms

cooperate
to work together towards a shared goal

Grammar Patterns

conflict + with [someone] + over [something]

Usage Note

This sense is less common in modern everyday English than the noun senses or verb sense 1. It is usually replaced by 'fight', 'argue', or 'disagree' in informal speech, and tends to appear in more formal or literary writing.

Common Mistakes

They conflicted each other during the meeting.

They conflicted with each other during the meeting.

even in this sense, 'conflict' remains intransitive and requires 'with'.

Word family

conflicting
adjectiveB2
conflicted
adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Disagreement is the broadest and most neutral term — it simply means having a different opinion, without implying strong emotion or a long-lasting situation. Dispute is more formal and typically focuses on a specific issue, often involving evidence, facts, or legal rights, e.g., a boundary dispute between neighbours. Clash suggests a sudden, direct confrontation where differences are sharp and emotions run high, like a clash between protesters and police. Friction describes ongoing, low-level tension that produces repeated minor irritations rather than one dramatic showdown, such as the friction between long-term staff and new management. For everyday use, 'disagreement' fits most situations; 'conflict' sits between these, carrying more weight than a simple disagreement but less suddenness than a clash.

disagreement ↗dispute ↗clash ↗friction ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

in conflict with
come into conflict
be in conflict

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Conflict entered English in the 1400s from Middle French 'conflit', which came from Latin 'conflictus' — the past participle of 'confligere', meaning 'to strike together'. The Latin word was built from 'com-' (together) and 'fligere' (to strike). The original sense was physical — objects striking each other — before it broadened to cover disagreements, battles, and incompatible ideas.

conflict

Common Mistakes

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Common Mistakes

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

conflict of interest(s)

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Entries near

Entries near

conflict

conflict — noun

1. A state of tension that arises when people or groups hold different views or pri

Common Mistakes

2. a period or situation in which two or more countries, armies, or large groups us

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. A condition where two or more ideas, beliefs, feelings, or pieces of information

Common Mistakes

4. An ethical problem that arises when a person's private interests or relationship

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

conflict of interest(s)

conflict — verb

1. when two or more beliefs, facts, statements, or activities are so different that

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to engage in active fighting or heated disagreement with someone, often over a l

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Entries near

Entries near