What is "vis major"

Vis major \Vis ma"jor\ [L. major greater.] (Law) A superior force which under certain circumstances is held to exempt from contract obligations; inevitable accident; -- a civil-law term used as nearly equivalent to, but broader than, the common-law term act of God (which see).

n. (context legal English) A greater force; "act of God"; unavoidable accident.

n. a natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the expected course of events; "he discovered that his house was not insured against acts of God" [syn: act of God, force majeure, inevitable accident, unavoidable casualty]