noun

merge conflict

MURJ KON-flikt

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Merge conflict (noun) means a situation in which two people have changed the same part of the same file and the version-control software cannot decide which change to keep, so it stops and asks a person to choose. Example: “I pulled the latest changes and got a merge conflict in the settings file.”

noun

A situation in which two people have changed the same part of the same file and the version-control software cannot decide which change to keep, so it stops and asks a person to choose.

"I pulled the latest changes and got a merge conflict in the settings file."

"Two merge conflicts held the release up for an hour."

How to use merge conflict

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWhen two people change the same lines and the computer asks which version to keep.

When to use it

Technical, common in software teams; used most often with Git.

Memory tip

Usual verbs are get, hit or run into a merge conflict, and resolve or fix one.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

merge → rebase pull request conflict marker

Common pairings

resolve a merge conflict merge conflict markers hit a merge conflict conflict in the file

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “merge conflict” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

I pulled the latest changes and got a _____ in the settings file.

Etymology

A compound of merge, the act of combining two lines of changes, and conflict.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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conflict merge collision

Related words

war fight battle fighting agreement conflict struggle combat

Rhymes for merge conflict

conflict

See all rhymes for merge conflict →

Frequently asked questions

What causes a merge conflict?

It happens when two sets of changes touch the same lines of a file, or when one side edits a file the other side has deleted or renamed. The software can combine changes that sit in different places automatically, but where they overlap it has no way of knowing which version is wanted.

How is a merge conflict resolved?

Someone opens the affected file, where the tool has marked both competing versions, decides what the final text should be, removes the markers and saves the result. The resolved file is then recorded as a commit so the merge can finish.

Is a merge conflict an error or a bug?

Neither. It is the version-control system correctly declining to guess, and it is a normal part of several people working on the same code. It only becomes a problem if it is resolved carelessly and one person's work is discarded by accident.

What is the meaning of merge conflict?

"merge conflict" (noun) means a situation in which two people have changed the same part of the same file and the version-control software cannot decide which change to keep, so it stops and asks a person to choose.

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