conflict

Conflict is part of the Academic Word List. It is important for students in college and university.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: con‧flict

noun

• (UK) IPA: /ˈkɒnflɪkt/, SAMPA: /"kQnflIkt/
• (US) enPR: kŏn'flĭkt, IPA: /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/, SAMPA: /"kAnflIkt/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

verb

• enPR: kənflĭkt'
• IPA: /kənˈflɪkt/
• SAMPA: /k@n"flIkt/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

Noun

Singular conflict

Plural conflicts

1. (countable & uncountable) A conflict is when two or more people or ideas don't agree.

   People have tried to end the conflict, which has caused more than 100 deaths since February, but it hasn't worked.

   Conflicts may occur in families when the parents have different values.

   The two stories examine the conflict between good and evil.

   There may be a conflict between wanting to give students a broad education and needing to teach the basics.

   Sometimes a girl is in conflict with her culture or religion in how she wants to dress.

2. (countable) A conflict is when two things are trying to use the same resources at the same time.

   I'm sorry I can't meet then. I've got a conflict with another meeting.

Synonyms

• fight
• war
• disagreement
• argument

Antonyms

• peace
• harmony

Related words

• conflict of interest

Verb

Plain form conflict

Third-person singular conflicts

Past tense conflicted

Past participle conflicted

Present participle conflicting

1. (intransitive) If two goals, plans, meetings, etc. conflict, they both cannot be achieved, work or be true.

   The goal of hiring more workers conflicts with the plan to cut costs.

   Sorry, the meeting conflicts with my prior plans.