Contingency

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kÉ™nˈtɪndÊ’É™nsi/

Origin

contingent + -cy (16th century).

Full definition of contingency

Noun

1. (uncountable) The quality of being contingent, of happening by chance; unpredictability. 1560s
2. (countable) A possibility; something which may or may not happen. A chance occurrence, especially in finance, unexpected expenses. 1610s
3. (countable) An amount of money which a party to a contract has to pay to the other party (usually the supplier of a major project to the client) if he or she does not fulfill the contract according to the specification.
4. (logic, countable) A statement which is neither a tautology nor a contradiction.

Synonyms

• possibility

Antonyms

• (being contingent) necessity
• (possibility) necessity

Coordinate terms

• (statement which is neither a tautology nor a contradiction) contradiction, tautology

Derived terms

• contingency plan