foregone conclusion
Americannoun
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an inevitable conclusion or result.
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a conclusion, opinion, or decision formed in advance of proper consideration of evidence, arguments, etc.
noun
Etymology
Origin of foregone conclusion
First recorded in 1595–1605
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.
Passage has gone from a foregone conclusion early in the year to a long shot, even though lawmakers hope to hold a committee vote in the next month.
From Barron's ● Apr. 17, 2026
“I think endemicity is a foregone conclusion and measles will circulate at the level it did in the 1990s,” Adalja said.
From Salon ● Apr. 8, 2026
Nevertheless, it is important to remember that this isn’t yet a foregone conclusion by any means—and that there are multiple uphill slogs ahead for PSWBD.
From Slate ● Feb. 27, 2026
That wait goes on, but a defeat should not exactly have been a foregone conclusion - even if Aston Villa are flying in third place.
From BBC ● Jan. 25, 2026
“Yeah, we love him,” Bobby Gene said, like it was a foregone conclusion.
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
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.
