If you have a vested interestin something, you have a very strong reason for acting in a particular way, for example to protect your money, power, or reputation.
Only those with vested interests in the current system could ignore the need forchange.
The administration has no vested interest in proving whether public schools weregood or bad. [+ in]
vested interest in British English
noun
1. property law
an existing and disposable right to the immediate or future possession and enjoyment of property
2.
a strong personal concern in a state of affairs, system, etc, usually resulting in private gain
3.
a person or group that has such an interest
vested interest in American English
1.
an established right that cannot be eliminated, as to some future benefit
2.
close involvement in promoting personal advantage
3. [pl.]
a number of groups cooperating or competing in pursuing selfish goals and exerting controlling influence, esp. the powerful persons and groups that own and control industry, business, etc.
Examples of 'vested interest' in a sentence
vested interest
The vested interests lobbying for money for their pet projects.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Critics suspect they are just protecting their vested interests.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Such vested interests need to be exposed as such.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It will be necessary to build support for change and tackle vested interests.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The latter will work but inevitably draw a storm of protest from small but vocal vested interest groups.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
A better scientific understanding is where our future vested interest is.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The government needs to tackle vested interests, bring into play available public sector land and grasp the nettle on housing.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This is money well spent, as it gives locals much-needed income and a vested interest in protecting the reserve.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This needs to change and vested interests in Greece need to be tackled, but it would be naive to rely on it.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The terms of the financial settlement were unnecessarily harsh, they insisted, and were designed to penalise the poorer investors by protecting vested interests.
Malcolm Balen A VERY ENGLISH DECEIT: The Secret History of the South Sea Bubble and the First GreatFinancial Scandal (2002)
Such groups were increasingly seen as "reactionary" apologists for "vested interest groups ", rather than defenders of a relevant, broad and universal political philosophy.
Cockett, Richard Thinking the Unthinkable (1994)
Word lists with
vested interest
Property law terms
In other languages
vested interest
British English: vested interest NOUN
If you have a vested interest in something, you have a very strong reason for acting in a particular way, for example to protect your money, power, or reputation.
Only those with vested interests in the current system could ignore the need for change.