force majeure

Meaning

1. (uncountable, usually) An overwhelming force.
2. (uncountable, usually) An unavoidable circumstance, especially one that prevents someone from fulfilling a legal (usually contractual) obligation.

Synonyms

act of God

inevitable accident

unavoidable casualty

vis major

inevitability

irresistible force

superior force

hell or high water

Translations

fuerza mayor

höhere Gewalt

force majeure

cas fortuit

força maior

força major

overmacht

ανωτέρα βία

caso fortuito

forza maggiore

causa di forza maggiore

vis maior

قضاء وقدر

cosa de Dios

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌfɔːs mæˈʒɜː/

Etymology

PIE word
*méǵh₂s
Borrowed from French force majeure (“exceptionally strong or superior force; (law) unavoidable circumstance that prevents someone from fulfilling a legal obligation”), from force (“force”) (ultimately from Latin fortis (“powerful, strong”)) + majeure (the feminine singular of majeur (“of great importance, major”), ultimately from Latin maior (“greater; large”),).