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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

Contexts: In project management, risk assessment, or insurance, imprévu describes events outside the scope of an

In culture, imprévu is used as a theme or title in French-language literature, film, and journalism to

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.
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.
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.