contingent

[kuh n-tin-juh nt]

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.

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 formscon·tin·gent·ly, adverbnon·con·tin·gent, adjectivenon·con·tin·gent·ly, adverbun·con·tin·gent, adjectiveun·con·tin·gent·ly, adverb

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

Related Words for contingent

unforeseen, detachment, batch, dependent, chance, incidental, probable, accidental, body, set, section, mission, quota, sect, deputation, bunch, disciples, casual, fluky, fortuitous

Examples from the Web for contingent

Contemporary Examples of 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
A notably large Irish contingent took part in the infamous draft riots because they did not want to compete for jobs with blacks.
This Week's Riots Are Part of America's Long History of Racial Rage
Sharon Adarlo
November 29, 2014
Its future on the Great White Way is contingent on the Times review.
Can Condon's Freak Show Win Broadway?
Tim Teeman
November 18, 2014
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
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

Historical Examples of contingent

The 58th Ohio, (German,) also contained a Cleveland contingent.
Cleveland Past and Present
Maurice Joblin
The contingent numbered sixteen Europeans, and about 350 natives.
The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of VIII)
Various
Was crowned in Westminster Abbey, but without the American contingent.
Who Was Who: 5000 B. C. to Date
Anonymous
He paid a contingent fee and was listed as one of the competitors.
Tom Swift and his Electric Runabout
Victor Appleton
In recent years preceding, the annual contingent had been about 430,000.
The Story of the Great War, Volume II (of VIII)
Various

British Dictionary definitions for contingent

contingent

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

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.