unforeseen

USAGE SUMMARY

'unforeseen' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is unexpected or that happened without warning. Example sentence: The pandemic was an unforeseen situation that took the world by surprise.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Clinton, who retired earlier this year as secretary of state, has not yet said whether she intends to run in 2016 but all the signs indicate that she will, barring an unforeseen event such as a health scare.

The Guardian

The harder you work today, the more work you'll have in the long run, even if it means that this particular assignment will end early due to your unforeseen brilliance.

The Guardian

Claire and I resolved early on to prevent any unforeseen disasters; we worked for hours replacing leather buckles with velcro fastenings and shoelaces with elasticated flaps.

The Guardian

Looking back on the turbulent history of the European system since 1990 and the subsequent and totally unforeseen implosion of the Soviet Union the following year, it is too easy to fault the Russians for failing to insure themselves against the possibility of eastern European states joining the Atlantic alliance.

The Guardian - Opinion

What initially appears a smallish tweak could end up having an unforeseen impact.

The Guardian - Sport

These online applications are increasingly interlinked and a security failing at any one point can lead to unforeseen consequences elsewhere".

The Guardian

But until that possibility has actually been put to the test, the reasonable fear will be that loose language about best endeavours and unforeseen circumstances will give corporate lawyers plenty of scope to get their clients off the hook.

The Guardian - Opinion

The "regulation is submitted due to extremely urgent and unforeseen needs", it said.

The Guardian - Business

The view that Fox's alternative foreign policy will be the deciding factor – bar any new, unforeseen and damning evidence of wrongdoing revealed in the media – is based on a number of assumptions.

The Guardian

QE has also had unforeseen side-effects.

The Guardian - Business

This may have subtle but unforeseen consequences.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing risk management or planning, use "unforeseen" to highlight the importance of preparing for unpredictable circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "unforeseen" simply as a synonym for 'unexpected' or 'surprising'. Ensure the situation truly couldn't have been anticipated. If it was simply neglected, a different word might be more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "unforeseen" primarily functions as an attributive adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that they were not anticipated or predicted. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, providing numerous examples where "unforeseen" precedes nouns like "events", "consequences", and "challenges".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "unforeseen" is a commonly used adjective that describes something not anticipated or predicted. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various domains, primarily in news, business, and scientific contexts. When writing, it's essential to use "unforeseen" to describe events or consequences that genuinely could not have been predicted, rather than simply those that were not considered. Related phrases like "unanticipated", "unexpected", and "unpredicted" offer similar meanings and can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. Understanding the function, purpose, and register helps ensure accurate and effective communication using the word "unforeseen".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unpredicted

Emphasizes the lack of prior prediction.

unanticipated

Highlights the absence of prior anticipation.

unexpected

Focuses on the surprise element.

unforeseeable

Indicates impossibility of predicting.

out of the blue

Informal expression emphasizing suddenness and unexpectedness.

by surprise

Highlights the element of being caught off guard.

without warning

Stresses the absence of any prior notification.

unheralded

Suggests something that arrived without any announcement or introduction.

unlooked-for

An older, more formal synonym for unexpected.

unplanned

Focuses on the lack of prior planning.

FAQs

How to use "unforeseen" in a sentence?

You can use "unforeseen" to describe events or consequences that were not anticipated or predicted. For example, "The project faced "unforeseen challenges" due to the pandemic."

What can I say instead of "unforeseen"?

You can use alternatives like "unexpected", "unanticipated", or "unpredicted" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "unforeseen circumstances" or "unforeseeable circumstances"?

"Unforeseen circumstances" refers to circumstances that actually happened and were not predicted. "Unforeseeable circumstances" refers to circumstances that, by their nature, could not have been predicted.

What's the difference between "unforeseen" and "unexpected"?

"Unforeseen" emphasizes the lack of prior knowledge or prediction, suggesting the event was genuinely unpredictable. "Unexpected" simply means the event was not anticipated, without necessarily implying it was impossible to foresee.