force majeure

American  

[fawrs ma-zhœr] / fɔrs maˈʒœr /

noun

Law.

• forces majeures
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• forces majeures
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of force majeure

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

force majeure

Bloom Energy jumps after a Wall Street analyst reassures investors the company won’t be affected by Oracle’s force majeure notice.

From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026

QatarEnergy extended force majeure on contracted supplies for some buyers into early November.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

In late August, QatarEnergy—the state-owned petroleum company of Qatar—extended force majeure on contracted supplies for some buyers into early November.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Earlier this month, less than two weeks before the attacks, a clause was added to their contracts, including drone attacks in the list of "force majeure events" for which Wildberries is not liable.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

The Baron bowed, and muttered something about force majeure.

From Quisisana, or Rest at Last by Friedrich Spielhagen

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