act of God

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

act′ of God′, [Law.]

1. 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.

• 1855–60

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

act of God noun

1. a sudden and inevitable occurrence caused by natural forces and not as a result of human activity, such as a flood, earthquake, or a similar catastrophe