act of God
Uninsurable natural disaster
An act of God is a natural event beyond human control—earthquakes, floods, lightning strikes, hurricanes.
The phrase appears most often in legal and insurance contexts, where it describes catastrophes that release parties from liability because no one could have prevented or predicted them: The contract included an act of God clause.
The term is sometimes called force majeure.
Catastrophic environmental event
- earthquakeSeismic ground movement
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
flood · volcanic eruption · avalanche · typhoon · cyclone · blizzard · landslide · wildfire
Extraordinary event excusing performance
- contract clauseSpecific provision in agreement
- unforeseeableImpossible to anticipate
- unavoidableImpossible to prevent
- uncontrollableImpossible to restrain
Godly action in affairs
- providenceDivine protective care
- fatePredetermined course of events
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- divine willGod's sovereign intention
miracle · supernatural · omnipotence · predestination · karma · blessing · curse · sacred
Refusal to pay out
- property damageHarm to possessions
- liability waiverLegal exemption from responsibility
- risk assessmentEvaluating likelihood of harm
- catastrophic lossSevere irreversible damage
natural disaster
Catastrophic environmental event
- earthquakeSeismic ground movement
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
tornado · flood · volcanic eruption · avalanche · typhoon · cyclone · blizzard · landslide · wildfire · drought
force majeure
Extraordinary event excusing performance
- contract clauseSpecific provision in agreement
- unforeseeableImpossible to anticipate
- unavoidableImpossible to prevent
divine intervention
Godly action in affairs
- providenceDivine protective care
- fatePredetermined course of events
- destinyPredetermined course of events
divine will · miracle · supernatural · omnipotence · predestination · karma · blessing · curse · sacred · transcendent
claim denial
Refusal to pay out
- property damageHarm to possessions
- liability waiverLegal exemption from responsibility
- risk assessmentEvaluating likelihood of harm
- legal defensesself-defense, alibi, affirmative defense, insanity defense, insanity
- Biblical ExpressionsGarden of Eden, David and Goliath, Good Samaritan, prodigal son, forbidden fruit
- fatedestiny, fate, kismet, Moira, fated
- natural disastersearthquake, tornado, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic eruption
- legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law
- exclusionsexclude, exclusion, excluding, except, exception
act of Godhuman error
Mistakes by people
negligence · human action · willful misconduct · sabotage · arson
act of Godnegligence
Failure to exercise care
breach of duty · fault · breach of contract · professional misconduct · dereliction of duty
act, action, active, actor, acting, actress, actions, acts, acted