Meaning & use
unforeseen circumstances
Events or conditions that were not anticipated and that affect a plan or agreement.
See it in a sentence
The flight was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, including a sudden mechanical issue.
The contract allowed either party to withdraw if unforeseen circumstances made the deal impossible.
A note on using this word
This phrase is common in formal, legal, and business writing to excuse a change of plan without assigning blame.
Words with a similar meaning
unexpected eventsforce majeure
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unforeseen circumstances”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.