I. ˈkän-ˌflikt noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin conflictus act of striking together, from confligere to strike together, from com- + fligere to strike — more at profligate
Date: 15th century
1. : fight , battle , war
an armed conflict
2.
a. : competitive or opposing action of incompatibles : antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests, or persons)
b. : mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external or internal demands
3. : the opposition of persons or forces that gives rise to the dramatic action in a drama or fiction
Synonyms: see discord
• con·flict·ful ˈkän-ˌflikt-fəl adjective
• con·flic·tu·al kän-ˈflik-chə-wəl, kən-, -chəl, -shwəl, -chü-əl adjective
II. kən-ˈflikt, ˈkän-ˌ intransitive verb
Date: 15th century
1. archaic : to contend in warfare
2. : to show antagonism or irreconcilability : fail to be in agreement or accord
his statement conflict s with the facts
• con·flic·tion kən-ˈflik-shən, kän- noun
• con·flic·tive kən-ˈflik-tiv, ˈkän-ˌ adjective