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act of God
| 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. |
1855–60
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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| act of God n. pl. acts of God A manifestation especially of a violent or destructive natural force, such as a lightning strike or earthquake, that is beyond human power to cause, prevent, or control. |
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.)
Note: 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.”
Note: 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.
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Main Entry: act of God
often cap A : an extraordinary natural event (as a flood or earthquake) that cannot be reasonably foreseen or prevented —compare FORCE MAJEURE, INEVITABLE ACCIDENT, UNAVOIDABLE ACCIDENT
NOTE: It is a defense against liability for injury if the injury is directly and exclusively caused by an act of God.
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act of God
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]
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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