contingent

[ kuh n-tin-juh nt ]

/ kənˈtɪn dʒənt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contingent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

dependent for existence, occurrence, character, etc., on something not yet certain; conditional (often followed by on or upon): Our plans are contingent on the weather.

liable to happen or not; uncertain; possible: They had to plan for contingent expenses.

happening by chance or without known cause; fortuitous; accidental: contingent occurrences.

Logic. (of a proposition) neither logically necessary nor logically impossible, so that its truth or falsity can be established only by sensory observation.

noun

a quota of troops furnished.

any one of the representative groups composing an assemblage: the New York contingent at a national convention.

the proportion that falls to one as a share to be contributed or furnished.

something contingent; contingency.

Nearby words

Origin of contingent

1350–1400; late Middle English (present participle) (< Middle French) < Latin contingent- (stem of contingēns, present participle of contingere), equivalent to con- con- + ting-, variant stem of tangere to touch + -ent- -ent

Related forms

con·tin·gent·ly, adverbnon·con·tin·gent, adjectivenon·con·tin·gent·ly, adverbun·con·tin·gent, adjective

un·con·tin·gent·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for contingent

Former Texas governor Ann Richards was a big fan of the Texas Rangers, a contingent of which was her protective detail.
My Love Letter to the Stetson|Mark McKinnon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Characters in The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. are “The Contingent Man and Woman.”
How to Get Laid in Brooklyn a la Adelle Waldman’s Nifty Novel of Manners|Tom LeClair|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The victims were friends of his, as the Mexican and Russian contingent in the shop had grown close.
I Heard About the Latest Crazed Shooter While I Watched the World Cup with Guys He Almost Killed|Daniel Genis|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It seems unlikely that the ASU contingent will be able to make a coherent case against Farland.
Is John Garland Guilty of Teaching While White at Alabama State?|John McWhorter|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

For a while, Bell was the popular and admired face of the British contingent in Baghdad.
Gertrude of Arabia, the Woman Who Invented Iraq|Clive Irving|June 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Leibniz here distinctly opposes identical truths as necessary, to truth connected with reason as contingent.
Leibniz's New Essays Concerning the Human Understanding|John Dewey
The Indian contingent alone is said to have lost 1000 yesterday.
The Incomparable 29th and the "River Clyde"|George Davidson
Bosquet, in command of a French division and a Turkish contingent, was assigned to attack Menzikov's left.
A History of the Nineteenth Century, Year by Year|Edwin Emerson
General Yermoul and his colleagues would command the contingent from Gnaphisthasia, consisting of fourteen thousand wayleals.
The Goddess of Atvatabar|William R. Bradshaw
I suppose they would have succeeded, too, if a large amount given to the city were not contingent on its preservation.
Linda Condon|Joseph Hergesheimer

British Dictionary definitions for contingent

contingent

/ (kənˈtɪndʒənt) /

adjective

(when postpositive, often foll by on or upon) dependent on events, conditions, etc, not yet known; conditional

logic (of a proposition) true under certain conditions, false under others; not necessary

(in systemic grammar) denoting contingency (sense 4)

metaphysics (of some being) existing only as a matter of fact; not necessarily existing

happening by chance or without known cause; accidental

that may or may not happen; uncertain

noun

a part of a military force, parade, etc

a representative group distinguished by common origin, interests, etc, that is part of a larger group or gathering

a possible or chance occurrence

Derived Formscontingently, adverb

Word Origin for contingent

C14: from Latin contingere to touch, fall to one's lot, befall; see also contact

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

Word Origin and History for contingent

contingent

adj.

late 14c., from Old French contingent or directly from Latin contingentem (nominative contingens) "happening, touching," present participle of contingere "to touch" (see contact). The noun is from 1540s, "thing happening by chance;" as "a group forming part of a larger group" from 1727.

contingent

adjective

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of contingent

Examples from the Web for contingent

contingent

adjective

noun

Word Origin for contingent

contingent