force majeure

Meanings

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