Etymology

Noun

1. A god from the machine.
2. 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 he or she desired

   Oh, now I'm backed into a corner, and can't devise a way out. I could sure use a deus ex machina right about now!

3. A contrived solution to a problem, relying on an agent external to the situation.

   We used a sale of the business at a ridiculously high multiple to make the numbers work, a deus ex machina.

Usage notes

• Many other plurals are in use, but are much less common: dii ex machina, di ex machina, dei ex machinis, dii ex machinis, and di ex machinis, which are supportable as Latin forms and deus ex machinas which does not.