English Explanatory Dictionary

contingent

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something in the future.
  2. That which falls to one in a division or apportionment among a number; a suitable share.
  3. A quota of troops.
adj
  1. Possible or liable, but not certain, to occur.
  2. Dependent on something that is undetermined or unknown, that may or may not occur.
  3. Not logically necessarily true or false.
  4. Temporary.

Pronunciation

/kənˈtɪn.d͡ʒənt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-contingent.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-contingent.wav

Word forms

contingent contingents more contingent most contingent

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

contingency chance contingent eventuality possibility potentiality proportion incidental casual conditional conditioned qualified

Antonyms

noncontingent certain inevitable necessary impossible

Related words

contingent charge contingent claim contingent remainder contingent symbiosis contingent valuation

Derived words

contact contingence contingency contingentism contingently contingentness
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