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

Examples of act of God in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Your electric bill is not an act of God. — Josh Elliott, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2026 There are those who insist that what happened last summer was an act of God. — Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026 And not even acts of God should be allowed to take Aaron Judge out of the lineup. — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026 All of us are here because, over millennia of acts of God and wars and disease, our ancestors trusted the hours. — Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for act of God

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of act of God was in 1611

Rhymes for act of God

See All Rhymes for act of God

Browse Nearby Words

act of faith
act of God
act of grace
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Act of God.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/act%20of%20God. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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.

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