act of God
noun phrase
: an extraordinary interruption by a natural cause (such as a flood or earthquake) of the usual course of events that experience, prescience, or care cannot reasonably foresee or prevent
Word History
First Known Use
1611, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
act of God
often capitalized 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.