conflict of interest

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A situation where a person's or organization's ability to act impartially is compromised by competing personal, professional, or financial interests: It describes a circumstance where a judgment or decision, especially in a professional or official capacity, could be unduly influenced by a secondary interest, creating a risk of bias or unfairness.
    • A clash between public duty and private gain: Specifically, it often refers to a scenario where a public official's or employee's private financial or personal interests could improperly influence the performance of their official duties and responsibilities.
Usage and Examples
  • Noun:
    • The journalist had to recuse herself from covering the story due to a conflict of interest; her brother was the CEO of the company involved.
    • Board members must disclose any potential conflict of interest before voting on a new contract.
    • The law firm established strict policies to avoid any conflict of interest between its attorneys and their clients.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
  • "To have a conflict of interest": To be in a situation where one's personal interests could conflict with one's professional obligations.
    • The city planner had a clear conflict of interest because he owned land in the area being rezoned.
  • "To declare/recuse oneself due to a conflict of interest": To formally state that one has a conflict and remove oneself from a decision-making process.
    • The judge recused himself from the case due to a conflict of interest.
  • "Perceived conflict of interest": A situation that may appear to be a conflict to others, even if no improper influence is intended.
    • Even a perceived conflict of interest can damage an organization's reputation.
Variants and Related Words
  • Conflict (n): A serious disagreement or argument; a clash. (e.g., )
  • Interest (n): A stake or involvement in something, often financial; a thing that one is concerned with. (e.g., )
  • Conflicted (adj): Having or showing confused and mutually inconsistent feelings. (e.g., ) Note: This is an adjective describing a person's state of mind, not the institutional situation of a "conflict of interest."
Synonyms
  • Bias (n): Inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group, especially in a way considered to be unfair.
  • Impropriety (n): Failure to observe standards of honesty or modesty; improper behavior.
  • Dual loyalty (n): A situation where a person owes allegiance to two competing parties or principles.
Related Phrases and Concepts
  • "To be on both sides of a transaction": A descriptive phrase for a clear conflict of interest where an individual benefits from both parties in a deal.
  • "Undue influence": Excessive persuasion that overpowers a person's free will, often related to conflicts of interest in legal or financial contexts.
Idiomatic Expressions
  • "To wear two hats": To have two different roles, which can sometimes lead to a conflict of interest.
    • As both a shareholder and a regulator, she was wearing two hats, creating a potential conflict.
  • "To serve two masters": To try to be loyal to two opposing parties or principles, inevitably leading to a conflict. (Derived from the biblical idiom)
    • A politician who accepts large campaign donations from an industry may find it impossible not to serve two masters.
Noun
  1. a situation in which a public official's decisions are influenced by the official's personal interests