force majeure
Americannoun
plural
forces majeuresnoun
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.
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
Still, “QatarEnergy declared force majeure on some supply contracts following last week’s attacks on its facilities,” ANZ analysts say.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 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
"Our results are most consistent with people moving under force majeure, relying on family networks to navigate crisis."
From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026
Whether they were returned emigrants or people who had by force majeure accepted the Revolution and the Empire, all bore the stamp of that old world which they alone kept in memory.
From Angelot A Story of the First Empire by Price, Eleanor C. (Eleanor Catherine)
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.
