A conflict of interest is considered to be a conflict between the public duty and private interests of a public official, in which the public official has private-capacity interests which could improperly influence the performance of his official duties and responsibilities.
Huvide konflikt on olukord, kus vastanduvad ametiisiku töised ja isiklikku laadi huvid, mille korral isiklikud huvid võivad ebasoovitavalt mõjutada tema tööülesannete nõuetekohast täitmist.