unforeseeable

adjective

un·​fore·​see·​able ˌən-fȯr-ˈsē-ə-bəl 

: not able to be reasonably anticipated or expected : not foreseeable

an unforeseeable event/problem

unforeseeably

ˌən-fȯr-ˈsē-ə-blē 

adverb

Examples of unforeseeable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Orioles lost Grayson Rodriguez in spring and Zach Eflin early in the season — an unforeseeable occurrence according to general manager Mike Elias. —Tim Britton, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025

Now, in 2025, the U.S. is again at a time of change, with the advent of powerful technologies that will affect public health in still unforeseeable ways. —Jordan Miller, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2025

And all that doesn’t even count the unforeseeable but certainly likely incredible speed at which new media can explode onto the scene. —David Doty, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Or, to be more precise, Marclay’s execution reveals that the concept contains unforeseeable complexity underlying its simplicity. —Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unforeseeable

• disagreeable
• unenviable
• agreeable
• foreseeable
• friable

Legal Definition

unforeseeable

adjective

un·​fore·​see·​able

ˌən-fōr-ˈsē-ə-bəl

: not capable of being reasonably anticipated or expected : such that a person of ordinary prudence would not expect to occur or exist under the circumstances

an unforeseeable misuse

an unforeseeable injury

unforeseeability

-ˌsē-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē

noun