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Foreseeable Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

๐Ÿ”ฎ
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foreseeable

[fษ”หหˆsiหษ™bl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

in planning

able to be foreseen or anticipated; predictable

Synonyms

anticipatable, expected, predictable.

Examples of usage

  • It was a foreseeable outcome of the decision.
  • The consequences of the budget cuts were foreseeable.
  • The increase in demand was foreseeable due to the marketing campaign.
Context #2 | Adjective

in legal terms

likely to be reasonably anticipated and therefore preventable

Synonyms

likely, predictable, preventable.

Examples of usage

  • The court found the negligence to be foreseeable by the defendant.
  • The accident was deemed foreseeable by the insurance company.

Translations

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Interesting Facts

Law

  • In legal terms, the foreseeable range of events is often discussed in the context of negligence and liability.
  • Judges often assess whether a person could have reasonably foreseen the consequences of their actions, influencing legal outcomes.

Psychology

  • Humans have a natural tendency to predict future events based on past experiences, a concept studied in predictive psychology.
  • Cognitive biases, like optimism bias, can influence oneโ€™s ability to foresee potential negative events in the future.

Science

  • Predicting weather patterns is a practical application of foreseeability, involving various scientific models and data.
  • In the field of environmental science, assessing foreseeable impacts of climate change is crucial for policy-making.

Pop Culture

  • Many films and novels feature characters with the ability to foresee future events, highlighting the human fascination with prediction.
  • In classic literature, prophets or seers often illustrate cultural attitudes toward foreseeability.

Origin of 'foreseeable'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Old English 'forsee', meaning 'to see ahead'.
  • It combines 'fore', meaning 'before', and 'see', which has roots in both Old English and Old Norse, highlighting the concept of vision and prediction.

The word 'foreseeable' originated in the late 18th century, combining the prefix 'fore-' meaning 'before' and the verb 'see'. It emphasizes the ability to see or predict something before it happens, both in a general sense and within legal contexts. The concept of foreseeability plays a crucial role in risk assessment, decision-making, and legal liability.

See also: unforeseeable, unforeseeably.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,862, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.