ACT OF GOD Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

act of God

noun

Law.

a direct, sudden, and irresistible action of natural forces such as could not reasonably have been foreseen or prevented, as a flood, hurricane, earthquake, or other natural catastrophe.

act of God

noun

law a sudden and inevitable occurrence caused by natural forces and not by the agency of man, such as a flood, earthquake, or a similar catastrophe

act of God

An event beyond human control — e.g., hurricane , earthquake , volcanic eruption ( see volcano ), etc. — for which there is no legal redress. The phrase is frequently used by insurance companies and lawyers.

act of God

A natural catastrophe, e.g., a hurricane , an earthquake , or a volcanic eruption. ( See volcano .)

Discover More

Notes

In contracts dealing with the delivery of goods or services , the term is used to protect the parties from litigation over delays or failures in performance owing to circumstances beyond their control.

As a legal term relating to property damage, it appears in insurance contracts : “After the flood, Papovich was dismayed to discover that his house was not insured against acts of God.”

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of act of God¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

An unforeseen and uncontrollable natural event, such as a hurricane, fire, or flood. For example, The publisher shall publish the work within twelve months except in case of delay caused by acts of God such as fires or floods or other circumstances beyond its control . It most often appears in legal contracts, where it is used to indemnify one party against a disaster that prevents it from carrying out the contract's terms. [Mid-1800s]

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It was, one Labor Minister told me, a decision taken from him by "an act of God".

From

“It’s just convenient and easy for people who want to spend their time pointing fingers instead of looking forward. This was an act of God. This was a force majeure. This was beyond anybody’s control.”

From

I said, "No, no, no. This is an act of God if there ever was one, this thing that we're dealing with, and we have no idea what it is."

From

Johnson defended the deal, putting the blame on "acts of God" for needing some of the added provisions, like disaster aid and assistance for farmers.

From

Mr Iliffe had been forced to compare his problem to so-called "acts of God", which are traditionally quoted by insurance providers as events they will not cover.

From

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Browse