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

Travel insurance is largely meant to cover unforeseeable events, said Chrissy Valdez, senior director of operations at Squaremouth. —Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2025

Attorneys for the Newport News school district have argued that the shooting was an unforeseeable act by a child too young to be fully understood or anticipated. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 31 Oct. 2025

They got paid, though certainly not what would soon become the series’ fair market value — the show’s ceiling was unforeseeable when the paperwork was signed. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025

If there’s a force majeure clause in the new rights contracts that allows the NBA’s media partners to temporarily halt running sportsbook ads when an unforeseeable event makes such airings impractical, it’s hidden under a tide of black ink. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 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