Foreseeable
/fɔːrˈsiːəbəl/
Definitions
Able to be predicted or expected; capable of being seen or known in advance.
/fɔːrˈsiːəbəl/
Capable of being predicted or anticipated.
The company faces foreseeable challenges due to the economic downturn.
💡 Simply: Think of it like this: if you're planning a birthday party, and you *know* it's going to rain based on the weather forecast, that rain is *foreseeable*. It means you can anticipate what will happen in the near future based on current information.
👶 For kids: Something that you can guess will happen, like knowing it's going to get dark tonight because the sun is setting!
More Examples
We must take steps to mitigate foreseeable risks in our project.
The judge ruled that the injury was a foreseeable consequence of the defendant's actions.
How It's Used
"The company is liable for any foreseeable damage caused by its product."
"The CEO must consider all foreseeable risks before making a major investment."
"The insurance policy covers losses from foreseeable events such as fire or theft."
From Old English *fōrsēon* (to foresee), a combination of 'fore-' (before) and 'see' (to see). The suffix '-able' indicates capability or possibility.
The word 'foreseeable' gained more prominence in legal and business contexts in the 20th century, emphasizing the importance of anticipating potential issues.
Memory tip
Imagine seeing the future with a telescope – what you can see is foreseeable.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: fōrsēon