force majeure clause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "force majeure clause" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is most often used in contracts or legal documents to refer to a clause that outlines circumstances in which a party to the contract is not liable for breach of contract due to events outside of their control, such as natural disasters or unforeseen circumstances. Example: "The insurance company will not be held responsible for any delays or failures to provide coverage in case of a force majeure event, as outlined in the force majeure clause of the insurance policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"They don't have a force majeure clause," he said.

The New York Times

In some instances, oil companies are invoking what is known a "force majeure" clause in their drilling contracts with rig owners.

The New York Times

The union has complained that the company misused a force majeure clause -- which gives it the ability to lay off workers during times of extreme distress.

The New York Times

Mr. Trippler said the requirement stemmed from the force majeure clause of ticket contracts, which went into effect with the nationwide grounding.

The New York Times

Like other airlines, Delta laid off large numbers of workers after the Sept. 11 attacks, invoking the force majeure clause and citing those attacks as the reason.

The New York Times

The attacks in recent weeks have forced Libya to declare 11 fields non-operational, including al-Ghani, and invoke a force majeure clause that exempts the state from contractual obligations.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Force majeure clauses appear in as many as half the roughly 3,200 New York leases reviewed by The Times.

The New York Times

"The Measure of a MAC: A Machine-Learning Protocol for Analyzing Force Majeure Clauses in M&A Agreements," (with D. O'Kane), Journal of Inst.

Columbia University

Something like this is happening in Finland, but such contracts will inevitably contain force majeure clauses, especially in the event of political and regulatory risk becoming manifest.

The Guardian - Business

Insurance with "force majeure" clauses can cover a trip if the U.S. State Department issues a travel warning that covers your travel area.

WikiHow

He argued that the crisis was essentially an act of God, allowing him to invoke the "force majeure," or extraordinary event, clause, in his contract with the bank.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In corporate communications, use the term to explain delays caused by external, uncontrollable factors to maintain professional transparency.

Common error

Do not assume a "force majeure clause" automatically applies if a contract simply becomes more expensive or less profitable to fulfill. In most jurisdictions, financial loss is considered a business risk rather than an unforeseeable 'act of God' or 'force majeure' event.

Linguistic Context

The term "force majeure clause" functions as a complex noun phrase within legal and business English. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and serves as a specific identifier for a contractual provision. It acts as the subject or object in sentences describing liability, contractual breaches and risk management.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, the "force majeure clause" is a vital linguistic and legal tool used to navigate unforeseen disruptions in contractual agreements. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its high frequency in professional contexts. The phrase appears consistently across high-authority news sources like The Guardian and The New York Times, particularly in reports concerning global crises, labor disputes and construction delays. Writers should be careful to distinguish between a "force majeure clause" and a simple "termination clause", as the former specifically addresses events outside human control. For the most professional impact, ensure the context supports the 'unforeseeable' nature of the event being discussed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

force majeure provision

Uses provision instead of clause, often implying a broader section of a document.

act of God clause

Focuses specifically on natural disasters rather than human-triggered extraordinary events.

extraordinary event clause

Uses more descriptive, modern English to describe the same legal mechanism.

unforeseeable circumstances provision

Emphasizes the lack of predictability regarding the disruptive event.

exemption clause

Broader term for clauses that limit liability or exempt a party from obligations.

impracticability provision

A common legal standard in US commercial law similar to force majeure.

escape clause

A more informal term for any provision that allows a party to exit a contract.

hardship clause

Often relates to economic difficulty rather than impossibility of performance.

casualty clause

Typically used in real estate to address physical damage to property.

termination clause

Focuses on the end of the contract rather than the suspension of obligations.

FAQs

How do I use "force majeure clause" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a contractual protection, for example: "The developer invoked the "force majeure clause" following the earthquake to justify the construction delay."

What is another name for a "force majeure clause"?

You can use a "force majeure provision" or an "act of God clause", though the latter is often narrower in scope.

Can I use "escape clause" instead of "force majeure clause"?

While an "escape clause" allows a party to avoid obligations, it is a broader and less formal term; a "force majeure clause" is specifically for uncontrollable external events.

Is "force majeure clause" formal enough for a legal brief?

Yes, it is the standard technical term used by legal experts and authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist.