force majeure
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of force majeure
First recorded in 1880–85; from French: literally, “superior force”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Qatar has already stopped liquefied natural gas production and, along with energy producers in Kuwait and Bahrain, declared force majeure.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and a force majeure at Qatar’s Ras Laffan facility have knocked roughly a third External link of the world’s helium supply offline.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
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 • Mar. 25, 2026
QatarEnergy declared force majeure on some LNG contracts.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
These checks are the exercise of a force majeure, which is often invidious and always difficult.
From The New Irish Constitution by Morgan, J. H.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
