- a situation in which people, groups or countries disagree strongly or are involved in a serious argument
- The violence was the result of political conflicts.
- conflict between A and B (over something) a conflict between two cultures
- His task will be to resolve potential conflicts between the British and Scottish governments.
- conflict with somebody The prime minister wants to avoid conflict with the unions.
- conflict over something The government has done nothing to resolve the conflict over nurses' pay.
- in conflict with somebody (over something) She found herself in conflict with her parents over her future career.
- John often comes into conflict with his boss.
- conflict within something The terms of the will became a source of conflict within the family.
- She has received training in conflict resolution.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentb2- His work brought him into conflict with more conventional scientists.
- The conflict arose from different ambitions within the team.
- The decision led to a bitter conflict between the management and unions.
- There is more to a successful relationship than simply managing conflict.
- They found themselves in conflict over the future of the company.
- They hid their feelings to avoid conflict.
- a conflict over ownership of the land
- conflicts between different ethnic groups
- in conflict with management
- serious conflicts within the ruling party
- the key to successful conflict management
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- major
- bitter
- …
- bring somebody/something into
- cause
- come into
- …
- arise (from something)
- occur
- erupt
- …
- during a/the conflict
- in a/the conflict
- in conflict
- …
- an area of conflict
- a source of conflict
- in direct conflict with somebody
- …
Want to learn more?
Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.
- a violent situation or period of fighting between two countries
- armed/military conflict
- The country has experienced internal conflict over the last decade.
- Hopes of ending the conflict in the region are fading.
- international efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict
- conflict with somebody This isolated state faces the risk of another violent conflict with its neighbour.
- conflict over something They are engaged in a bloody conflict over the disputed territory.
- conflict between A and B (over something) A conflict between the two countries could easily spread across the whole region.
Collocations War and peaceWar and peaceStarting a war- declare/make/wage war (on somebody/something)
- go to war (against/with somebody)
- cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrest
- incite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellion
- launch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attack
- prevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflict
- be torn apart by/be on the brink of civil war
- enter/invade/occupy somebody’s territory
- lead/launch/resist/repel an invasion
- adopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategy
- carry out/execute/perform military operations/manoeuvres
- send/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troops
- go on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue mission
- train/equip/deploy army/military/combat units
- lead/launch/conduct a raid/a surprise attack/an (air/airborne/amphibious) assault (on somebody)
- employ/use guerrilla tactics
- conduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfare
- fight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgency
- suffer/inflict a crushing defeat
- achieve/win a decisive victory
- halt/stop the British/German/Russian advance
- order/force a retreat
- join/serve in the army/navy/air force
- be/go/remain/serve on active duty
- serve/complete/return from a tour of duty
- be sent to the front (line)
- attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemy
- see/report/be engaged in heavy fighting
- call for/be met with armed resistance
- come under heavy/machine-gun/mortar fire
- fire a machine-gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)
- shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missiles
- launch/fire a cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missile
- use biological/chemical/nuclear weapons
- inflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualties
- be hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery fire
- become/be held as a prisoner of war
- harm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilians
- cause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damage
- impose/enforce/lift a curfew
- engage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansing
- be sent to an internment/a concentration camp
- accept/house/resettle refugees fleeing from war
- fear/threaten military/violent reprisals
- commit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocide
- make/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peace
- call for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary truce
- sign a ceasefire agreement
- call for/bring/put an end to hostilities
- demand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/something
- establish/send (in) a peacekeeping force
- negotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treaty
Extra ExamplesTopics War and conflictb2, Politicsb2- Thousands have been arrested in violent ethnic conflicts in the region.
- to end the conflict with its northern neighbour
- Conflict between the two groups has left more than 8 000 dead.
- Peace talks have failed to end the 6-year-old conflict.
- The UN are hoping to resolve the conflict quickly.
- Our ability to mobilize large numbers of trained men in time of emergency could forestall future conflict.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- major
- bitter
- …
- bring somebody/something into
- cause
- come into
- …
- arise (from something)
- occur
- erupt
- …
- during a/the conflict
- in a/the conflict
- in conflict
- …
- an area of conflict
- a source of conflict
- in direct conflict with somebody
- …
- a situation in which there are ideas, opinions, feelings or wishes that are opposed to each other; a situation in which it is difficult to choose
- Her diary was a record of her inner conflict.
- conflict between A and B The story tells of a classic conflict between love and duty.
- in conflict with something Many of these ideas appear to be in conflict with each other.
- conflict of something He faced a conflict of loyalties.
- a serious conflict of opinion
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentb2- in direct conflict with his wishes
- the conflict between science and religion
- the inherent conflict between what farmers and environmentalists want
- the inherent conflict between the demands of farmers and wishes of environmentalists
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- fundamental
- irreconcilable
- serious
- …
- situation
- management
- resolution
- …
- in conflict with
- conflict between
- conflict of
- …
- a conflict of interest
- a conflict of interests
- a conflict of loyalties
- …
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin conflict- ‘struck together, fought’, from the verb confligere, from con- ‘together’ + fligere ‘to strike’; the noun is via Latin conflictus ‘a contest’.
Idioms
See conflict in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee conflict in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishconflict of interest(s)
- a situation in which somebody has two jobs, aims, roles, etc. and cannot treat both of them equally and fairly at the same time
- There was a conflict of interest between his business dealings and his political activities.
- One member of the planning committee had a conflict of interest as he lived near the proposed road.
- There is often a conflict of interests between farmers and conservationists.
Check pronunciation:
conflict