unforeseeable

adjective

un·​fore·​see·​able ˌən-fȯr-ˈsē-ə-bəl How to pronounce unforeseeable (audio)
: not able to be reasonably anticipated or expected : not foreseeable
an unforeseeable event/problem
unforeseeably adverb

Examples of unforeseeable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And while winners may be tempted to choose the annuity for an initial lower tax bite and to get more Powerball money, inflation and unforeseeable tax changes over 29 years could eat away at its value. George Petras, USA TODAY, 18 July 2023 In case of an emergency or unforeseeable need, notify your employer as soon as practicable. Gisselle Medina, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2023 Circumstances may have been someone unforeseeable in this case, but NBC Sports Boston has needed one more play-by-play voice on its depth chart for a while. Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Apr. 2023 In legal contracts, there is a clause called force majeure, which removes liability from unforeseeable and unavoidable catastrophes that may interrupt the normal course of events. Andrew Rosen, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023 Top right: An uni hand roll is an unforeseeable display of excess at Friends Only. Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Apr. 2023 Speaking from the West L.A. offices of his Film Forties production company, Berg spoke candidly about his shifting career and the unforeseeable challenges of Boys in Blue. Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Jan. 2023 Force majeure clauses are standard and are added in agreements to remove liability for unforeseeable and unavoidable events that prevent a service provider from doing its job. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2023 In its defense, the studio is expected to invoke force majeure: a common contractual clause freeing parties from liability or obligation in the face unforeseeable circumstance or an irresistible force often related to a state of emergency of an act of God. Chris Lee, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unforeseeable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unforeseeable was in 1672

Dictionary Entries Near unforeseeable

Cite this Entry

“Unforeseeable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unforeseeable. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on unforeseeable

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