Act of God
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Insurance Context
Often used in insurance policies to describe events not covered due to their uncontrollable nature. 
The contract states that any 'act of God' is excluded from coverage.
Pro Tip 2/3Legal Disputes
The term can be subject to legal debates about what qualifies as uncontrollable. 
The court had to decide if the landslide was indeed an 'act of God'.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Religious
Despite the term 'God', this phrase is not typically used for religious purposes in modern contexts. 
The bridge collapsed due to an 'act of God', not poor construction.