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

“Many customers remain unaffected but we have had to declare force majeure in some cases for certain products,” a spokesperson said Monday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Purchasers have also been hit by the fact that many pre-war contracts governing prices have been suspended as producers cite "force majeure," forcing reliance on higher spot market prices.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 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

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

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

Jesup was very rich, and very eager to bring the whole nation up to grace by force majeure.

From A Book of Prefaces by Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis)