Act of God

usgb
noun

An unexpected natural event like a hurricane or earthquake that cannot be stopped or controlled by humans.

The insurance company did not cover damages because they considered the flood an act of God.
Visual representation of "act of God" - An unexpected natural event like a hurricane or earthquake that cannot be stopped or controlled by humans.

Often appears as...

  • act of god clause
  • in the event of an act of god

Usage tips

Formal

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "act of God"
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Insurance Context

Often used in insurance policies to describe events not covered due to their uncontrollable nature.

Illustration for Insurance Context
The contract states that any 'act of God' is excluded from coverage.
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Legal Disputes

The term can be subject to legal debates about what qualifies as uncontrollable.

Illustration for Legal Disputes
The court had to decide if the landslide was indeed an 'act of God'.
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Not Always Religious

Despite the term 'God', this phrase is not typically used for religious purposes in modern contexts.

Illustration for Not Always Religious
The bridge collapsed due to an 'act of God', not poor construction.
Visual representation of the word "Act of God"

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