force majeure

noun

force ma·​jeure ˌfȯrs-mä-ˈzhər 

-mə-

plural force majeures

1

: superior or irresistible force

2

a

: an event or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled

The contest's rules state that the competition can be moved in the event of a force majeure, such as an ongoing war.

—Louis Chilton

Check your flight status before you leave for the airport. Flights canceled due to force majeure mean the airlines aren't required to provide hotel or food.

—Tom Parsons

compare act of god

b

: the state or an instance of being unable to fulfill an agreement due to such an event or effect

… declared force majeure and indefinitely halted operations …

—Chemical & Engineering News

… natural gas that was never delivered due to force majeures caused by permitting problems and social conflicts.

—Amy Stillman

3

: force majeure clause

… invoked force majeure, a legal provision that freed it from legal liabilities because it was unable to meet its contractual obligations due to the war.

—Raja Abdulrahim

Lawyers have warned … it will be difficult for buyers to exit gas contracts using force majeure, without facing financial penalties or arbitration.

—Energy Monitor Worldwide

Did you know?

Force majeure translates literally from French as superior force. In English, the term is often used in line with its literal French meaning, but it has other uses as well, including one that has roots in a principle of French law. In business circles, "force majeure" describes those uncontrollable events (such as war, labor stoppages, or extreme weather) that are not the fault of any party and that make it difficult or impossible to carry out normal business. A company may insert a force majeure clause into a contract to absolve itself from liability in the event it cannot fulfill the terms of a contract (or if attempting to do so will result in loss or damage of goods) for reasons beyond its control.

Examples of force majeure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is due to a larger impact from the non-commodity elements of the supply chain, like ocean freight and trucking surcharges, supplier inflation, and force majeure premiums. — Footwear News, 18 Aug. 2026

Sponsor is not liable for any travel cancelled or prizes forfeited due to a force majeure event (including without limitation, events related to the propagation of the COVID-19 virus). — August 16, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026

If your hotel, campsite or rental is evacuated by local authorities, French law treats it as force majeure and the provider is generally required to refund the unused portion of the stay. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Edison SpA, the Italian electric utility unit under French group EDF, said QatarEnergy extended a force majeure notice, withholding four additional LNG cargoes scheduled for Italy’s Adriatic LNG terminal until early September. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, superior force

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for force majeure

• amour
• grandeur
• hauteur
• velour
• voyeur
• doer
• poor
• poore
• raconteur

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Legal Definition

force majeure

noun

force ma·​jeure ˈfȯrs-ma-ˈzhər, -mȧ-ˈzhœ̅r 

1

: superior or insuperable force

2

: an event (as war, labor strike, or extreme weather) or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled : fortuitous event compare act of god, inevitable accident

Etymology

French, superior force