ENGLISH
REFERENCE

conflict

n. · v.
US //ˈkɑnfɫɪkt// con·flict
  1. 1 a fight or struggle (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a serious disagreement or a physical fight between people, groups, or countries.

    a state of open, often prolonged fighting; a battle or war. Often used in political or sociological contexts to describe systemic struggles.

    Example

    The two countries are trying to find a peaceful way to end the conflict.

    Example

    Diplomatic efforts were redoubled in an attempt to resolve the border conflict before it escalated into a full-scale regional war.

    Usage

    Often takes the preposition 'between' or 'with'.
  2. 2 incompatibility (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    a situation where two ideas, needs, or interests cannot exist together.

    a state of logical or practical incompatibility between two or more elements. Frequently appears in the phrase 'conflict of interest'.

    Example

    There is a conflict between his desire to travel and his need to save money.

    Example

    The researcher had to disclose a potential conflict of interest because she owned shares in the company funding the study.
Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 to be at odds (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    to be different in a way that means two things cannot both be true or happen together.

    to be in opposition or show a lack of agreement. This intransitive verb requires the preposition 'with' when followed by an object.

    Example

    The results of the new study conflict with the findings from last year.

    Example

    The witness's testimony appeared to conflict with the physical evidence found at the scene, leading the jury to question his credibility.

    Usage

    The verb is intransitive and typically takes the preposition 'with'.
  2. 4 scheduling overlap (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    when two events happen at the same time so you cannot go to both.

    to occur at the same time as another event, creating a logistical impossibility for a participant.

    Example

    I would love to come to your party, but it conflicts with my work schedule.

    Example

    The final exam conflicts with the graduation rehearsal, so several students have requested a rescheduled time for their test.
Origin

From Latin conflictus, past participle of confligere (“to strike together”), from com- (“together”) (a form of con-) + fligere (“to strike”).

Word family

© 2026 English Reference