# force majeure

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌfɔːs mæˈʒɜː/

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

## 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”),).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/force-majeure