Idiom

An act of god

What does "An act of god" mean?

Some event that is considered to be outside human control. Commonly used in insurance policies to refer to events that the insured cannot be held responsible for.

An act of God

Britain. Used from the 13th century in its original religious sense and from the mid 19th century when referring to insurance claims.

Meaning Some event that is considered to be outside human control. Commonly used in insurance policies to refer to events that the insured cannot be held responsible for.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

The insurance company had to pay up for the lightning strike damage. After all, it wasn't my fault, it was an act of God.

Pronunciation