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

contingency fund, contingency plan, contingency reserve, contingency table, contingency tax, contingent, contingent beneficiary, contingent fee, contingent liability, contingent worker, continual

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 Forms

contingently, 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