vis major
- noun
- /vɪs ˈmeɪdʒər/
- Formal
- Certain insurance policies exclude claims arising from vis major, such as earthquakes or floods.
Examples
-
The company could not be held liable because the shipping delay was due to vis major.
-
Legal contracts often include a clause addressing obligations in cases of vis major.
-
The company cited vis major as the reason for the delay.
-
Many contracts include a clause for vis major events.
-
Certain insurance policies exclude claims arising from vis major, such as earthquakes or floods.
-
Legal contracts often include a clause addressing obligations in cases of vis major.
-
The company could not be held liable because the shipping delay was due to vis major.
Synonyms
25
6.4
A person or thing with great, unstoppable power like a storm
22
6.8
A natural event like a flood or earthquake that cannot be prevented by people
5
9.8
A large unexpected event like a natural disaster or war that prevents someone from fulfilling a contract
1
6.0
An unexpected event you cannot stop even with great care
How Disruptive
174
7.0
∞
1.0
- Formal
∞
1.0
∞
2.7
10
3.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The constituents 'vis' (force) and 'major' (greater/serious) yield a compositional sense of an overpowering or very significant force, so a learner could infer a basic meaning like 'a great force'. However, this is a Latin legal phrase with specialized 'act of God' implications (irresistible natural events interrupting obligations) and register-specific nuance that a B1 learner would not fully predict from the parts alone.
Etymology
Vis major comes from old Latin words vis ('force') and major ('greater') that give the image of a power bigger than people, like an earthquake or a flood. That's why in law it means 'an irresistible natural force' that no one can stop and that interrupts normal activities.