éventualité

Éventualité is a feminine noun in French that designates a possible future event or outcome, typically a contingency or uncertain situation that can influence decisions or actions. It implies more than a general possibility, pointing to a plausible yet not assured result, and may require preparation or a backup plan. The term is used in formal, technical, and literary contexts, including discussions of risk, planning, and philosophical questions about necessity and chance.

Étymologie et cognats: the word comes from Latin eventualitas, itself from eventus, meaning what happens. It is closely related to the English word eventuality and to the adjective éventuel, meaning potential or possible.

Usage: éventualité is commonly found with prepositions such as à l'éventualité de, dans l'éventualité où, or en cas d'éventualité, to refer to a possible occurrence and to prepare responses. Synonyms include possibilité, contingence, and probabilité; however, éventualité carries a nuance of contingency planning or risk management, whereas possibilité emphasizes mere chance.

Exemples: Il faut prévoir des mesures en cas d'éventualité d'une perte de données. Dans l'éventualité où le client refuserait, nous proposerions une alternative. Les auteurs discutent les éventuelles conséquences d'une telle décision.