force majeure

[ French fawrs ma-zhœr ]

noun

, Law.

, plural forces majeures [faw, r, s m, a, -, zhœr].

1. an unexpected and disruptive event that may operate to excuse a party from a contract.

force majeure

/ ˈfɔːs mæˈʒɜː; -ˈdʒʊə /

noun

1. law irresistible force or compulsion such as will excuse a party from performing his or her part of a contract

Word History and Origins

Origin of force majeure¹

First recorded in 1880–85; from French: literally, “superior force”

Word History and Origins

Origin of force majeure¹

from French: superior force

Example Sentences

The landlocked country is facing an economic crisis due to a decline in oil exports after war-torn Sudan declared force majeure on oil shipments – South Sudan’s main export — passing through the country in March.

From Seattle Times

"People aren't here by choice, some are here for unfortunate reason, by 'force majeure', but some are great fun."

From BBC

Headwinds have always blown around in business English, but the phrase economic headwinds serves a special purpose: a majestic waving of the hand, an abandon to the fates, an inkling of force majeure.

From Los Angeles Times

He described the cat’s death as “force majeure,” a legal term for an unforeseeable catastrophe usually reserved for natural cataclysms and terrorist attacks.

From New York Times

The National Oil Corp. said in a terse statement that it lifted the force majeure at the Sharara oil field in the country’s south and resumed full production.

From Seattle Times