WordGarden.ioconflict
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /kənˈflɪkt/intransitiveverb
US
- /ˈkɑnflɪkt/
Meanings
Noun
a serious disagreement or clash between people, groups, or ideas
armed fighting between groups or countries
a clash or incompatibility between facts, needs, rules, or schedules
More meaningsFewer meanings
the main struggle or problem that drives a story
Verb
to be incompatible or at odds with something
Beyond the definition
Conflict isn't always about shouting matches and battles. It's any situation where opposing forces—ideas, desires, or even people—collide. Think of a tug-of-war—that's a physical conflict. But a disagreement with a friend about what movie to watch? That's conflict too! Sometimes conflict is obvious, like in war or heated arguments. Other times it's hidden, simmering beneath the surface like a quiet rivalry between coworkers. Stories thrive on conflict—without it, there's no drama, no growth, and often, no story at all.
Conflict describes a disagreement or clash, typically involving opposing needs, ideas, emotions, or principles. It's more than just a simple difference of opinion; it often implies a struggle where one's goals are blocked by someone else's. For example, the sentence "The conflict between the two nations escalated into war" illustrates a large-scale clash with devastating consequences.
But conflict isn't limited to grand, dramatic events. It can be internal—a personal struggle within oneself. "She was torn by an internal conflict between her ambition and her family obligations" shows someone wrestling with difficult choices. Conflict also appears in literature and film as the driving force of the narrative. A character might face conflict with another character (man vs. man), with nature (man vs. nature), or even with themselves (man vs. self).
The word can be used as a noun, describing the situation itself ("The peace talks failed to resolve the conflict"), or as a verb, meaning to be in opposition ("Their interests conflicted"). Sometimes, "conflict" simply means a clash of schedules or commitments: "I have a scheduling conflict and won't be able to attend."
Whether it's a global war, an internal dilemma, or a simple disagreement over dinner plans, conflict is a fundamental part of life—a force that can create tension, drive change, and ultimately shape our experiences.
Examples
- 1
Conflict avoidance
She hates conflict, so she often stays quiet in meetings.
- 2
Workplace disagreement
The conflict between the two departments slowed the project down.
- 3
Armed conflict
Years of armed conflict have forced many families to leave the region.
- 4
Moral conflict
He felt a conflict between doing what was easy and doing what was right.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Ethics
Serving on both committees could create a conflict of interest.
- Phraseconflict of interest
a situation where personal benefit could affect your decision
- 6
Evidence mismatch
The witness's story conflicted with the video evidence.
- Patternconflict with + evidence/account
not match or agree with it
- 7
Scheduling clash
My travel plans conflict with the training session on Friday.
- Patternconflict with + event
happen at the same time, making both difficult or impossible
- 8
Report differences
The two reports conflict on how much the repairs will cost.
- Patternconflict on + question/detail
give different information about it
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- armed conflict
- conflict of interest
- resolve a conflict
- come into conflict with
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- conflictnounverb
Forms
- conflictspluralnounverb
- conflicting-ing formverbnoun
- conflictedpast tenseverbnoun