deus ex machina
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deus ex machina
- /ˌdeɪ.əs ɛks ˈmækɪnə/ UK
- /ˌdeɪ.əs ɛks məˈʃiːnə/ UK
- /ˌdiːəs ɛks məˈʃiːnə/ UK
- /ˌdeɪ.əs ˌɛks ˈmɑkənə/ US
- /ˌdeɪ.əs ˌɛks ˈmækənə/ US
Where it comes from
Unadapted borrowing from Latin deus ex māchinā (literally “god from a machine [i.e., a device, scaffolding, contrivance]”), a calque of Ancient Greek ἀπὸ μηχανῆς θεός (apò mēkhanês theós).
noun dei ex machina · dei ex machinis · deus ex machinas
-
Any resolution to a story that does not pay due regard to the story's internal logic and that is so unlikely that it challenges suspension of disbelief, and presumably allows the author, director, or developer to end the story in the way that they desired.
Near-synonym: (vulgar, slang) ass-pull
Similar: ass-pull
- A contrived solution to a problem, relying on an agent external to the situation. The belief that a cure for cancer is being withheld by vested interests is a long-standing one. It is often used as a universal deus ex machina for those pushing an alternative alleged cure […]
- A deity in Greek and Roman drama who was brought in by stage machinery to intervene in a difficult situation (i.e., to resolve a crisis, or untangle issues surrounding it, a character logically expected to do so). I was going to wait for Monsieur Hyppolyte and, like a craven, hand the whole thing over to him. Let the deus ex machina fly in out of the clouds...
- A machine used to bring an actor playing a god onto the stage, either up through a trapdoor or (e.g. by crane) from above.
Translations
Every language
noun contrived plot resolution
| Español | deus ex machina |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 데우스 엑스 마키나 de'useu ekseu makina |
| 日本語 | どんでん返し don den gaeshi, デウスエクスマキナ deusu ekusu makina |
| 中文 | 機械降神 /机械降神 jīxiè jiàng shén |
| हिन्दी | डेयस एक्स माकिना ḍeyas eks mākinā |
| Português | deus ex machina |
| Français | deus ex machina |
| Deutsch | Deus ex Machina |
| Italiano | deus ex machina |
| Ελληνικά | από μηχανής θεός apó michanís theós |
| Русский | де́ус экс ма́хина dɛ́us eks máxina, «бог из маши́ны» box iz mašíny, роя́ль в куста́х rojálʹ v kustáx |
noun contrived solution to a problem
| Español | deus ex machina (deus eks mákhina) |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 急場しのぎ kyūba shinogi |
| Italiano | deus ex machina |
| Русский | счастли́вая развя́зка sčastlívaja razvjázka |
| العربية | الحَلّ مِنَ السَّمَاء al-ḥall mina s-samāʔ |
Talk about this word "deus ex machina." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/deus%20ex%20machina. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026. deus ex machina. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/deus%20ex%20machina "deus ex machina." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 7, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/deus%20ex%20machina.Cite this
@misc{deus_ex_machina_2026,
title = {deus ex machina},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/deus%20ex%20machina},
urldate = {2026-11-07}
}
