contingent

[ kuhn-tin-juhnt ]

/ kənˈtɪn dʒənt /

SEE 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.

QUIZZES

GEE WHILLIKERS! WAIT TILL YOU SEE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Do you remember all the words from last week, September 21–27, 2020? Then this quiz should be butyraceous.

Question 1 of 7

What does “yare” mean?

quick; agile; lively.

expressive of or characterized by sorrow.

having or characterized by persistent or earnest desire.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

OTHER WORDS FROM contingent

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

un·con·tin·gent·ly, adverb

Words nearby contingent

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for contingent

The problem is that ethical truths are necessarily true, and you can’t account for necessary truths without in some way going beyond the contingent states of the physical world.
The Universe Knows Right from Wrong - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Philip Goff|September 9, 2020|Nautilus
The largest contingent hailed from the SEC, with 10 of the 14 member schools choosing not to reveal the number of positive results.
Football Is Coming To Three Of The Power Five Conferences. COVID-19 Is Already There.|Josh Planos|September 8, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
It’s home to many of the most rabid fan bases in the country, an especially vocal contingent of college football tribalism unafraid to announce, with frequency, that the sport means more here.
Football Is Coming To Three Of The Power Five Conferences. COVID-19 Is Already There.|Josh Planos|September 8, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
This was to some degree contingent upon retailer safety precautions.
A Corona Xmas: Why physical stores will power online shopping this holiday season|Greg Sterling|September 4, 2020|Search Engine Land

The main Crusader contingent, however, was able to take advantage of transport ships that sailed directly from Europe to Palestine.
History of the Crusades: Origins, Politics, and Crusaders|Dattatreya Mandal|March 23, 2020|Realm of History
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 of contingent

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

contingent

adjective

noun

QUIZZES

GEE WHILLIKERS! WAIT TILL YOU SEE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of contingent

OTHER WORDS FROM contingent

Words nearby contingent

Example sentences from the Web for contingent

British Dictionary definitions for contingent

adjective

noun

Derived forms of contingent

Word Origin for contingent

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

contingent

adjective

noun

QUIZZES

GEE WHILLIKERS! WAIT TILL YOU SEE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of contingent

OTHER WORDS FROM contingent

Words nearby contingent

Words related to contingent

Example sentences from the Web for contingent

British Dictionary definitions for contingent

adjective

noun

Derived forms of contingent

Word Origin for contingent