Force majeure is a term that generally refers to an irresistable force or overcoming power. It affects someone's ability to do something and may be used as a legal excuse for not having carried out the terms of a contract. It is a form of the impossibility defense. In some cases, the defense may not apply, such as when there are terms requiring a backup or contingency plan to be in effect.
The following is an example of a force majeure clause in a contract: "No Party shall be liable for any failure to perform its obligations where such failure is as a result of Acts of Nature (including fire, flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane or other natural disaster), war, invasion, act of foreign enemies, hostilities (whether war is declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power or confiscation, terrorist activities, nationalization, government sanction, blockage, embargo, labour dispute, strike, lockout or interruption or failure of power sources.
