What does conflict mean?
Conflict refers to a state of serious disagreement, opposition, or incompatibility between two or more parties — whether people, groups, nations, ideas, or even internal drives within a single person. It ranges from everyday friction, such as a disagreement between colleagues, to large-scale violence like war. The word also functions as a verb meaning to clash or be at odds with something else. Because conflict is such a fundamental feature of human relationships, politics, literature, and psychology, it appears constantly across registers: formal writing discusses 'armed conflict' or 'a conflict of interest,' while casual speech might mention 'having a conflict' with someone's plans. Though often negative in connotation, the term itself is neutral and analytical — scholars study conflict resolution precisely because some level of disagreement is inevitable wherever interests diverge.
A serious disagreement, struggle, or incompatibility between opposing people, groups, ideas, or forces.
"Negotiators worked for weeks to bring the two sides out of conflict."
Commonly modified by adjectives specifying scale or type: 'armed,' 'internal,' 'ethnic,' 'legal.'
To be incompatible or at variance with something; to clash.
"The meeting time conflicts with my class schedule."
Stressed on the second syllable (/kənˈflɪkt/), distinguishing it from the noun.
Regular plural; used when referring to multiple distinct disputes or clashes.
"The novel explores several conflicts between duty and desire."
Conflict literally means 'to strike together' — the same Latin root that gave us 'collision' is hiding inside every argument you've ever had.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of conflict
Conflict derives from the Latin 'conflictus,' the past participle of 'confligere,' meaning 'to strike together,' formed from 'com-' ('together') and 'fligere' ('to strike'). It entered English via Old French in the late Middle Ages, initially referring to armed combat before broadening to cover any serious clash of persons, ideas, or interests. It shares its root with related words such as 'inflict,' 'afflict,' and 'profligate.'
Related word forms
How conflict is actually used
As a noun, 'conflict' carries a neutral-to-negative connotation depending on context — it can describe anything from a formal war to an internal psychological tension. As a verb it takes stress on the second syllable (/kənˈflɪkt/), unlike the noun. In psychology and ethics, 'internal conflict' refers to competing impulses within one person rather than a dispute between people.
Easily confused with conflict
Confluence means a flowing together or merging of things, whereas conflict means a clashing or opposition between them.