Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

eventuality

American  
[ih-ven-choo-al-i-tee] / ɪˌvɛn tʃuˈæl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

eventualities
  1. a contingent event; a possible occurrence or circumstance.

    Rain is an eventuality to be reckoned with in planning the picnic.

  2. the state or fact of being eventual; contingent character.


eventuality British  
/ ɪˌvɛntʃʊˈælɪtɪ /

noun

  1. a possible event, occurrence, or result; contingency

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of eventuality

First recorded in 1750–60; eventual + -ity

Explanation

An eventuality is an event that just might happen in the future. For example, I store fresh drinking water in the basement to be prepared for several eventualities. You can see the word "event" at the beginning of eventuality. Use that as a clue to remember that an eventuality is an event that might happen — eventually. Winning the lottery, a Mars landing, finding a cure for cancer, nuclear war: these are just some of the eventualities for which we should either get ready or try to prevent. What do you think are some of the eventualities for which the team should prepare? Tripping, falling, and landing on your butt are all eventualities for which the odds will increase during the ice storm.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing eventuality

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Eventuality 116 116 116 117 117 117 476   33.

From The Illustrated Self-Instructor in Phrenology and Physiology by Fowler, L. N.

Moderate.—Has a somewhat imperfect idea of time and dates; with moderate Individuality, Eventuality, and Language, is a poor historian: p.

From The Illustrated Self-Instructor in Phrenology and Physiology by Fowler, L. N.

Eventuality, 18 carat fine; absorption, 99 per cent.

From Punchinello, Volume 2, No. 29, October 15, 1870 by Various

Three quarters of an inch upward, and slightly below the centre of the forehead is Eventuality, which in children is usually large, and in adults generally small.

From The Illustrated Self-Instructor in Phrenology and Physiology by Fowler, L. N.

Both Gall and Spurzheim had a practically good idea of the region of Eventuality, which Gall first called the memory of things.

From Buchanan's Journal of Man, October 1887 Volume 1, Number 9 by Buchanan, Joseph R. (Joseph Rodes)