unforeseen
Britishadjective
Explanation
Something unforeseen is something that could not be predicted and was not expected. It's a surprise. If something was foreseen, you saw it coming and it wasn't a surprise. Something unforeseen is the opposite: no one saw it coming. Accidents are usually unforeseen events: no one expects to get in a car or bike accident on a given day. Winning the lottery, since it's so unlikely, would be an unforeseen event. If something was unanticipated or out of the blue, it was unforeseen. Unforeseen events can be good or bad, but they’re all surprises.
Vocabulary lists containing unforeseen
Power Prefix: un-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
World Without Fish
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: un-
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Unforeseen medical issues can put pressure on a marriage, as this couple discovered.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 27, 2025
Unforeseen road closures prevented shuttle buses from reaching the media hotel.
From BBC • Mar. 6, 2024
Unforeseen consequences are very likely, because human society is a complex system, and when you push it, you can get a backlash quite easily.
From Salon • Jun. 13, 2023
Unforeseen medical bills alone could create a debt problem for any potential partner who’s not top-tier wealthy.
From Slate • Jan. 13, 2022
Her longer stories, The Unforeseen and The Wayfarers, have the same good sense, the same bright way of treating difficulties.
From Woman's Club Work and Programs First Aid to Club Women by Benton, Caroline French
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.
