force majeure

[ French fawrs ma-zhœr ]

noun

, Law.

, plural forces majeures [faw, r, s m, a, -, zhœr].

1. an unexpected and disruptive event that may operate to excuse a party from a contract.

force majeure

/ ˈfɔːs mæˈʒɜː; -ˈdʒʊə /

noun

1. law irresistible force or compulsion such as will excuse a party from performing his or her part of a contract

Word History and Origins

Origin of force majeure¹

First recorded in 1880–85; from French: literally, “superior force”

Word History and Origins

Origin of force majeure¹

from French: superior force

Example Sentences

So I think these were things that we wanted to have happen, but this is kind of like a force majeure and I think we’re going to continue with the virtual dance world.

From Ozy

And Geordie obeyed like a child in the presence of force majeure.

From Project Gutenberg

Jesup was very rich, and very eager to bring the whole nation up to grace by force majeure.

From Project Gutenberg

La Cour de justice arbitrale a son sige La Haye et ne peut, sauf le cas de force majeure, le transporter ailleurs.

From Project Gutenberg

Il doit tre tenu pour limitatif en ce sens que le mauvais temps est le seul cas de force majeure qui puisse tre allgu.

From Project Gutenberg

They would acknowledge no law nor restraint and seem to have had force majeure on their side.

From Project Gutenberg