contingent Hear it!

contingent Definition

con·tin·gent (kən tin′jənt)

adjective

  1. Obsolete touching; tangential
  2. that may or may not happen; possible
  3. happening by chance; accidental; fortuitous
  4. unpredictable because dependent on chance
  5. dependent (on or upon something uncertain); conditional
  6. Logic true only under certain conditions or in certain contexts; not always or necessarily true
  7. Philos. not subject to determinism; free

Etymology: L contingens, prp. of contingere, to touch: see contact

noun

  1. Now Rare an accidental or chance happening
  2. a share or quota, as of troops, laborers, delegates, etc.
  3. a group forming part of a larger group

contingent Related Forms

con·tin′·gently adverb

contingent Synonyms

contingent

modif.

  1. Accidental

    chance, unforeseen, fortuitous; see accidental 1, uncertain 2, unexpected.

  2. Possible

    unpredictable, probable, conditional; see conditional, likely 1, uncertain 2.

contingent Law Definition

adj

  1. Possible, but not certain to happen.
  2. Dependent upon a future event or circumstance that is not certain to happen. See also vested.

contingent Usage Examples

Converse of object

send: During the closing ceremony, the Chief Scout promised to send a strong contingent to the 21st World Scout Jamboree.

Adjective modifier

  • sizeable: During the Second World War, there was a sizeable contingent of Belgian refugees in the town.
  • Belgian: During operations this unit would be integrated into the Belgian contingent.
  • Welsh: By 1928, deprived of their national game, the Welsh contingent had been instrumental in forming the Slough club.
  • Swedish: There were also much improved performances from the Swedish contingent, with Seb Alden netting 7+1 points and Jonas Davidsson 6+1.
  • Dutch: We have heard from some of the Dutch contingent, so hope to meet up with them.
  • Irish: Declan Quigley was part of the enormous Irish contingent at the Festival.

Modifies a noun

  • valuation: Keywords: contingent valuation, environmental values, stakeholder groups, mixed methodology, wetland conservation.
  • liability: They will be required to hold assets to cover a prudent assessment of this contingent liability.
  • repertoire: If the contingent repertoire appeared only in these contexts, the analysis would have limited significance.
  • spouse: Appendix 1 Factors to calculate costs for member's pension and contingent spouse 's pension in respect of current and past leavers.
  • irregularity: Then I suspected, whether by any unevenness in the glass, or o ther contingent irregularity, these colors might be thus dilated.
  • asset: We expect guidance on contingent assets later this month.

Modifying Another Word

historically: In our practice, the Giant becomes discursive, historically contingent, an oratorical procedure.

Noun used with modifier

  • CCF: The Colonel had only positive words to say about the Mill Hill CCF Contingent at the end day.
  • cadet: Cadet contingents from the nation's 400 Sea Cadet Units joined the crew of The Ark for the historic voyage.
  • troop: Right now, a relatively small US troop contingent is stationed in Georgia.

Preposition: of

  • fireman: The alarm bells were rung, and the float and a contingent of firemen quickly dispatched.
  • troop: At the end ensure that you have a contingent of troops to protect the radar dome.
  • soldier: A large contingent of soldiers challenged them and a bloody scene ensued.