English

Noun

vested interest ‎(plural vested interests)

1. (law) a right or title that can be conveyed
2. a fixed right granted to an employee, especially under a pension plan
3. a stake, often financial, in a particular outcome
4. a group of people or organizations with such a stake
5. an exceptionally strong interest in protecting or promoting something to one's own advantage
   • Oct 24, 2007, Patrick Wintour, The Guardian: Honours investigator calls for change in law

     Mr Yates conceded: "These cases are very difficult to prove because they are bargains made in secret. Both parties have an absolute vested interest in those secrets [not] coming out."

     In this context, "vested" is often used informally for emphasis.

Synonyms

• (protecting one's advantage): dog in the hunt, dog in the race, dog in the fight, horse in the race

Quotations

• "Any change is resisted because bureaucrats have a vested interest in the chaos in which they exist." - Richard M. Nixon

Translations