force majeure

American  

[fawrs ma-zhœr] / fɔrs maˈʒœr /

noun

Law.

plural

forces majeures

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

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force majeure British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of force majeure

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

Example Sentences

Alba—a leading aluminum producer in Bahrain—declared force majeure, freeing the company from its contractual liabilities, on March 4 due to the conflict, according to multiple sources.

From Barron's

On Tuesday, QatarEnergy declared force majeure on some of ⁠its LNG supply contracts, including ‌customers ⁠in China, South Korea, Italy and Belgium.

From The Wall Street Journal

It warned it would be forced to declare force majeure for up to five years on some long-term LNG contracts, signalling it may be unable to fulfill the agreements.

From Barron's

"Our results are most consistent with people moving under force majeure, relying on family networks to navigate crisis."

From Science Daily

National oil company QatarEnergy, which had already declared force majeure earlier this month, said strikes by Iran on Wednesday and Thursday caused extensive damage to its Ras Laffan hub.

From The Wall Street Journal