Imprévu

Imprévu is a French adjective and noun meaning "unforeseen" or "unexpected." As an adjective, it describes events, circumstances, or outcomes that could not reasonably be anticipated in a given context. As a noun, imprévu refers to such an unforeseen event. The opposite of prévu (planned or envisaged), imprévu is commonly used in everyday language as well as in technical, legal, and business discourse.

The term derives from prévoir, meaning to foresee; literally "not foreseen." The form is widely used with phrases such as à l'imprévu to express encountering the unforeseen. It can modify nouns directly, as in "événement imprévu," or function as a standalone concept in discussion of risk and contingency.

Contexts: In project management, risk assessment, or insurance, imprévu describes events outside the scope of an initial plan. Teams address imprévus with contingency plans, reserves, buffers in schedules, and flexible scope. Contracts may include clauses that adjust obligations in the face of imprévus, recognizing that some developments cannot be predicted.

In culture, imprévu is used as a theme or title in French-language literature, film, and journalism to evoke unpredictability and the limits of planning. The word is common enough to appear in discussions of everyday life as well as in more formal analyses of risk, strategy, and fate.