Definition of CONTINGENT

contingent

Meanings

Plural: contingents

Noun

  • a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
    • "each nation sent a contingent of athletes to the Olympics"
  • a temporary military unit
    • "the peacekeeping force includes one British contingent"
  • An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something in the future.
  • That which falls to one in a division or apportionment among a number; a suitable share.
  • A quota of troops.

Adjective Satellite

  • possible but not certain to occur
    • "they had to plan for contingent expenses"
  • determined by conditions or circumstances that follow
    • "arms sales contingent on the approval of congress"
  • uncertain because of uncontrollable circumstances; - George Eliot
    • "the results of confession were not contingent, they were certain"

Adj

  • Possible or liable, but not certain, to occur.
  • Dependent on something that is undetermined or unknown, that may or may not occur.
  • Not logically necessarily true or false.
  • Temporary.

Origin / Etymology

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

Synonyms

casual, chance, conditional, conditioned, contingency, contingent, contingent on, contingent upon, dependant on, dependant upon, dependent on, dependent upon, depending on, detail, eventuality, incidental, possibility, potentiality, proportion, qualified

Scrabble Score: 13

contingent is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
contingent is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
contingent is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

contingent is a valid Words With Friends word