Definition

1. Noun:
   • A natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the expected course of events: This term refers to a severe, unexpected event caused exclusively by natural forces, without any human intervention or negligence. It is often used in legal and insurance contexts to describe incidents for which no person or entity can be held responsible.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The insurance policy does not cover damage caused by an act of God, such as the earthquake.
  • The flooding was declared an act of God, so the company was not liable for the delivery delays.
  • Some contracts include a clause that excuses performance in the event of an act of God.

Advanced Usage

• Legal and Contractual Force Majeure: In legal contracts, "act of God" is a key component of clauses, which relieve parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event beyond their control occurs.
  • The hurricane was considered an act of God, triggering the force majeure clause in the construction contract.

Variants and Related Words

• Force Majeure (n): A broader legal term for an overwhelming, unanticipated event (which can include acts of God, war, or strikes) that prevents someone from fulfilling a contract.
• Vis Major (n): A Latin term with the same legal meaning as "act of God."

Synonyms

• Natural disaster: An event like an earthquake or flood that causes great damage.
• Catastrophe: A sudden, widespread disaster.
• Inevitable accident: An accident that could not have been prevented by due care (a related legal concept).

Related Phrases

• Beyond human control: A descriptive phrase often used to explain the nature of an act of God.
  • The tornado's path was completely beyond human control.

Related Idioms

• An act of God: While this is the term itself, it is used idiomatically to emphasize the unpredictable and uncontrollable power of nature.
  • We had planned an outdoor wedding, but an act of God sent a thunderstorm our way.

Noun

1. a natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the expected course of events
   • he discovered that his house was not insured against acts of God