deus ex machina

Definition

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.

Etymology

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).

Example Sentences

• "Near-synonym: (vulgar, slang) ass-pull"
• "The women who merge in the final pages leave me unsettled and depressed. Their future is grim. There is no deus ex machina to save them."
• "The repeated tactic of deus ex machina (without a deus) has a deplorable effect on both the plot and the dialogue."