foregone conclusion: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “foregone conclusion” mean?
A result or outcome that is considered inevitable or certain even before it happens.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A result or outcome that is considered inevitable or certain even before it happens.
An opinion or judgment that is formed prematurely, without proper evidence, or a predictable event whose occurrence is taken for granted.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in meaning and frequency. No significant orthographic or syntactic differences.
Connotations
Identical connotations of predictability and inevitability in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in written English (news, analysis) than in casual speech in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “foregone conclusion” in a Sentence
[Subject] + be + a foregone conclusionIt + be + a foregone conclusion + that-clauseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foregone conclusion” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The foregone conclusion made the final debate rather pointless.
American English
- We were dealing with a foregone conclusion scenario.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe merger approvals or contract awards seen as predetermined.
Academic
Used in historical or political analysis to describe inevitable events or pre-determined trial verdicts.
Everyday
Used for sports match outcomes, election results, or obvious personal decisions.
Technical
Rare in hard sciences; occasionally in statistics or game theory for predicted outcomes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “foregone conclusion”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “foregone conclusion”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foregone conclusion”
- Using 'foregone' as a verb (e.g., 'He foregone the conclusion'). The phrase is a fixed noun phrase.
- Misspelling as 'forgone conclusion'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it can be used for any inevitable outcome, positive or negative (e.g., 'His promotion was a foregone conclusion').
No, the standard spelling is 'foregone' (from 'forego' meaning 'to precede'). 'Forgone' is a common misspelling.
It originates from Shakespeare's 'Othello' (Act 3, Scene 3): 'But this denoted a foregone conclusion.' Here, 'foregone' meant 'that has gone before' or 'previous'.
Almost never. It is almost exclusively used as a countable noun in the pattern 'a foregone conclusion'.
A result or outcome that is considered inevitable or certain even before it happens.
Foregone conclusion is usually formal to neutral in register.
Foregone conclusion: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɔː.ɡɒn kənˈkluː.ʒən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːr.ɡɔːn kənˈkluː.ʒən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a done deal”
- “a slam dunk”
- “in the bag”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FORE + GONE: The conclusion is already 'gone before' the event even finishes.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FUTURE IS A PREDETERMINED PATH (The outcome is already fixed on the path ahead).
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is 'foregone conclusion' LEAST appropriate?