从上两篇文章中可以看出英文中表示不可抗力的词主要有：force majeure, act of God 和vis majeure，今天就来分析一下这三个词的具体区别。

act of God

首先来看一下维基百科上对该词的英文释义：An act of God describes an event outside of human control or activity. It's usually a natural disaster, such as a flood or an earthquake. （act of God形容人类无法控制的事件或活动。通常是自然灾害，如洪水或地震。保险单通常规定承保哪些特定的天灾）

《剑桥法律词典》对该词的英文释义为：An event due to natural causes (storms, earthquakes, floods, etc.) so exceptionally serve that no-one could reasonably be expected to anticipate or guard against it.（由自然原因（暴风、地震、洪水等）引起的异常事件，没有人能合理地预料到或防范它。）

从上面的解释可以看出 act of God是仅指自然力量引起的不可抗力。

vis majeure

首先来看一下维基百科对该词的英文释义：Vis major is a Latin term that means "superior force" and describes an irresistible natural occurrence that causes damage or disruption and that is neither caused by nor preventable by humans—even when exercising the utmost skill, care, diligence, or prudence. Examples of vis major include hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes. The terms act of God, natural disaster, and force majeure are synonymous with vis major. These terms are commonly used in contracts to exclude one or both parties from liability and fulfilling their contractual obligations when events beyond their control occur.（Vis major是一个拉丁文术语，意思是“强大的力量”，它描述了一种不可抗拒的自然现象，它会造成损害或破坏，它既不是由人类引起且即使是在行使最大的技能、谨慎、勤奋或谨慎时，人类也无法避免。vis major的例子包括飓风、龙卷风、洪水和地震。act of God、natural disaster和force majeure是vis major的同义词。这些术语通常用于合同中，在发生超出其控制的事件时以排除一方或双方的责任和履行其合同义务。）

force majeure

首先来看一下维基百科上对该词的定义：Force majeure is a French term that literally means "greater force." It is related to the concept of an act of God, an event for which no party can be held accountable, such as a hurricane or a tornado. Force majeure also encompasses human actions, however, such as armed conflict. Generally speaking, for events to constitute force majeure, they must be unforeseeable, external to the parties of the contract, and unavoidable. These concepts are defined and applied differently depending on the jurisdiction.（Force majeure是一个法语术语，字面意思是“超级力量”。它与act of God概念有关，一个任何一方都不能为之负责的事件，比如飓风或龙卷风。然而，不可抗力也包括人的行为，例如武装冲突。一般来说，对于构成不可抗力的事件，它们必须是不可预见的，合同当事人之外的，并且不可避免的。这些概念的定义和应用因管辖权而异。）

《剑桥法律词典》对该词的英文释义为：[French) Irresistible compulsion or coercion. The phrase is used particularly in commercial contracts to describe events possibly affecting the contract and that are completely outside the parties' control. Such events are normally listed in full to ensure their enforceability; they may include *acts of God, fires, failure of suppliers or subcontractors to supply the supplier under the agreement, and strikes and other labour disputes that interfere with the supplier's performance of an agreement. An express clause would normally excuse both delay and a total failure to perform the agreement. （[法语词]不可抗拒的强迫或胁迫。该短语在商业合同中特别用来描述可能影响合同的、完全不在当事人控制范围之内的事件。此类事件通常全部列出，以确保其可执行性；可能包括*天灾（acts of God）、火灾、供应商或分包商未能根据协议向供应商供货，以及罢工和其他妨碍供应商履行协议的劳资纠纷。明示条款通常可以作为拖延和完全不履行协议的借口。）

《原照英美法字典》对该词的中文解释为：（法）不可抗力 其字面含义为“超级力量”，作为法律用语，意旨不能预见、不能控制的事件或结果。但该词的含义广于英文中的“不可抗力”[acts of God]，因为他们不仅包括自然力，还包括认为的力量（例如暴乱、罢工、政府干预、战争行为等）。与本词同义的另一法律法语是force majesture，但后者是一种不必要的同词变体。

从上面的分析可以看出force majeure, act of God 和vis majeure三词都可指不可抗力，只是act of God （英文）和vis majeure（拉丁语）仅指天灾；force majeure（法语）不仅指天灾，还指人祸。