léventualité

L'éventualité is a French noun meaning the possibility or likelihood of a future event, especially one that is uncertain or contingent. It contrasts with an actual event (l'événement) and with necessity, and it corresponds to the English word eventuality in the sense of a possible outcome rather than a guaranteed occurrence. The term is used in formal, academic, and everyday language to denote contingency planning or hypothetical scenarios.

Etymology and related terms: the word derives from the adjective éventuel, meaning possible or eventual, which in turn comes from Latin eventualis. The noun form l'éventualité is used to refer to a potential outcome or scenario.

Usage in philosophy, logic, and planning: in philosophy and logic, éventualité refers to potentiality and to the possibility that something could be true or occur; in modal logic, it denotes a type of possibility. In management and planning, it is used to discuss contingencies and to phrase preparations for unlikely or varied scenarios, for example: « prévoir toutes les éventualités ». The plural éventualités is common in discussions of risk and strategy.

Other contexts: in law or administrative contexts, éventualité may describe unforeseen contingencies that could affect obligations or procedures. In everyday speech, it signals a hypothetical or potential situation that might complicate decisions or require safeguards.

See also: the French term is closely related to the English eventuality; in practice, it is often translated as contingency or possibility and is a standard concept in risk assessment and strategic planning.