Force majeure
Noun
- Unforeseeable circumstances that prevent someone from fulfilling a contract.
- Irresistible compulsion or greater force.
Example Sentences
“The music festival had to be canceled due to force majeure when the hurricane unexpectedly made landfall.”
“The shipping company cited force majeure when volcanic ash disrupted all flights across Europe.”
“The insurance company reviewed the force majeure claim after the cyber attack shut down the network.”
Word Origin
French, late 19th century
Why this word?
From French, this term translates literally as “greater strength.” You’ll see it most commonly in legal and insurance contexts, discussing circumstances that may prevent a contract from being fulfilled. A force majeure would be written into a contract as an acceptable case for which a contract can’t be fulfilled. These are sometimes referred to as “acts of God.” For example, if you’re signing a contract with a venue for an outdoor wedding, there may be several weather-related force majeure contexts that would prevent the outdoor event. If you’re concerned about major disasters impacting events, travel, or your home or property, it might be worth having a lawyer explain the force majeure clauses in your contracts.
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