Vis Major (Noun)
Meaning
A natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the expected course of events; "he discovered that his house was not insured against acts of God".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Examples
- A tornado is considered a vis major that cannot be prepared for by any amount of planning or foresight.
- The earthquake was a classic example of a vis major, wiping out entire neighborhoods in a matter of seconds.
- Due to the severe hurricane that hit the coast, the concert was cancelled and declared a vis major by the organizers.
- A tidal wave that destroyed the coastal village was an unavoidable vis major that left the residents devastated.
- After the volcanic eruption made their original venue uninhabitable, the music festival organizers had to invoke the clause of vis major to reschedule the event elsewhere.