Contingent

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kÉ™n.ˈtɪn.dÊ’É™nt/

Origin

From Old French contingent, from Medieval Latin contingens ("possible, contingent"), properly present participle of Latin contingere ("to touch, meet, attain to, happen"), from com- ("together") + tangere ("to touch").

Full definition of contingent

Noun

1. An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something future; a contingency.
2. That which falls to one in a division or apportionment among a number; a suitable share; proportion;
3. (military) a quota of troops.

Adjective

1. Possible or liable, but not certain to occur; incidental; casual.
2. (with upon) Dependent on something that is undetermined or unknown.The success of his undertaking is contingent upon events which he can not control.
3. Dependent on something that may or may not occur.a contingent estate
4. Not logically necessarily true or false.

Related terms

• contingence
• contingentness
• unexpected
• unplanned

Synonyms

• (possible but not certain to occur) incidental

Antonyms

• (possible but not certain to occur) certain, inevitable, necessary, impossible

Related terms

• contact
• contingence
• contingency
• contingent claim

Anagrams

• contenting