force majeure

[fawrs ma-zhœr]

noun

Law.

plural

forces majeures 

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

“It’s just convenient and easy for people who want to spend their time pointing fingers instead of looking forward. This was an act of God. This was a force majeure. This was beyond anybody’s control.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The landlocked country is facing an economic crisis due to a decline in oil exports after war-torn Sudan declared force majeure on oil shipments – South Sudan’s main export — passing through the country in March.

Read more on Seattle Times

"People aren't here by choice, some are here for unfortunate reason, by 'force majeure', but some are great fun."

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Headwinds have always blown around in business English, but the phrase economic headwinds serves a special purpose: a majestic waving of the hand, an abandon to the fates, an inkling of force majeure.

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He described the cat’s death as “force majeure,” a legal term for an unforeseeable catastrophe usually reserved for natural cataclysms and terrorist attacks.

Read more on New York Times