Vis Major Definition
vĭs mājər
vires majores
noun
An overwhelming, unanticipated, and unpreventable event, usually caused by a natural force, the occurrence of which may exempt a party from performing the obligations of a contract.
American Heritage
Webster's New World
A superior force; the term is used in civil cases to denote an act of God. A loss vis major results from natural causes, such as a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake, and without the intervention of human beings. It is a loss that could not have been prevented by diligence or by having taken precautions. See also force majeure.
Webster's New World Law
(law) A greater force; "act of God"; unavoidable accident.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
- unavoidable casualty
- inevitable accident
- force majeure
- act of god
Origin of Vis Major
Latin vīs māior vīs force māior greater
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Latin
From Wiktionary
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