contingent

adjective

con·tin·gent | \ kən-ˈtin-jənt

Definition of contingent

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : dependent on or conditioned by something else Payment is contingent on fulfillment of certain conditions. a plan contingent on the weather

2 : likely but not certain to happen : possible

3 : not logically necessary especially : empirical

4a : happening by chance or unforeseen causes

b : subject to chance or unseen effects : unpredictable

c : intended for use in circumstances not completely foreseen contingent funds

5 : not necessitated : determined by free choice

contingent

noun

Definition of contingent (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a representative group : delegation, detachment a diplomatic contingent

2 : something contingent (see contingent entry 1) : contingency

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Choose the Right Synonym for contingent

Adjective

accidental, fortuitous, casual, contingent mean not amenable to planning or prediction. accidental stresses chance. any resemblance to actual persons is entirely accidental fortuitous so strongly suggests chance that it often connotes entire absence of cause. a series of fortuitous events casual stresses lack of real or apparent premeditation or intent. a casual encounter with a stranger contingent suggests possibility of happening but stresses uncertainty and dependence on other future events for existence or occurrence. the contingent effects of the proposed law

Examples of contingent in a Sentence

Adjective

The isolation and co-optation of the capitalist classes in Germany meant that liberty as an ideal had no contingent link with capitalism, as had happened in Western Europe. — Orlando Patterson, New Republic, 8 Nov. 1999 He knows that the throngs cheering for him today will be cheering for someone else tomorrow, that enthusiasm is fickle, that real support for someone like him always has something completely contingent about it. — Andrew Sullivan, New Republic, 8 July 1996 Clearly the President was chastened by the sorrow and resentment of the people to whom he spoke, but his words were somehow tentative and contingent, as if they could be withdrawn on a month's notice. — Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, July 1992 Every undogmatic historian is aware of the multitude of contingent events that entered into the victory of the Bolshevik revolution. — Sidney Hook, Revolution, Reform & Social Justice, 1975 If the Sovereigns would grant him, contingent on his success, such rank, titles, and property that he and his issue could hold up their heads with the Spanish nobility, well and good … — Samuel Eliot Morison, The European Discovery of America, 1974

Noun

Hollywood, Madison Avenue, the FCC, and a growing contingent in corporate America: It's hard to imagine a more formidable alliance pushing segregated television. — Tamar Jacoby, New Republic, 24 Jan. 2000 A Maori contingent, unable to face the intensity of the Turkish fire, sought shelter in a nearby gully. — Martin Gilbert, The First World War, 1994 But just because we banned it [DDT] domestically, under pressure from the bird-watching contingent … it doesn't necessarily follow that the rest of the world was about to jump on the bandwagon. — T. Coraghessan Boyle, Harper's, April 1993 The group that makes up the largest contingent of voters in this area is the elderly. A contingent of reporters waited in front of the court for the defendant to appear. A British contingent was sent to assist the security forces.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

That sale was contingent upon the eventual merger being approved by regulators. — Marco Santana, orlandosentinel.com, "L3, Harris Technologies merger creates Florida’s largest aerospace, defense firm," 1 July 2019 The allocations are contingent on labor negotiations with the city administration. — Sarah Ravani, SFChronicle.com, "Oakland city workers push city for more money as council approves budget," 25 June 2019 The purchase of Snapfish, which like parent District Photo Inc. is closely held, would be contingent on the Shutterfly acquisition closing. — Miriam Gottfried, WSJ, "Apollo to Buy Shutterfly, Snapfish," 10 June 2019 But these classes are being taught by contingent workers: graduate students and non-tenure-track faculty with less job security, lower wages, and fewer benefits. — Chloe Watlington, The New Republic, "The Labor Movement’s Newest Warriors: Grad Students," 6 June 2019 That number includes independent contractors like Cowan, as well as contingent workers whose terms are set by companies like Lyft, Postmates, or TaskRabbit. — Emma Goldberg, Glamour, "A Penny for Her Thoughts? Women in the Gig Economy Struggle to Get Paid," 16 Apr. 2019 However, Tsipras said, this will be contingent on Macedonia completing the constitutional changes. — NBC News, "Macedonia's president says he won't sign off on deal to rename country," 14 June 2018 Is Heisenberg saying that our scientific theories are contingent on us as observers? — Marcelo Gleiser, Scientific American, "How Much Can We Know?," 8 May 2018 Both subsidies are contingent on Amazon’s adding 2,000 new jobs there. — Tim Logan, BostonGlobe.com, "Alexa drives Amazon’s local hiring: It confirms 2,000 jobs being added in Seaport," 1 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Uniformed officers blocked a major capital highway in front of federal police offices, and another contingent blocked the highway between the national capital and a state capital, Pachuca. — Washington Post, "Mexican police revolt against plans to join National Guard," 5 July 2019 Cunningham and Turner, along with forward Alanna Smith, make up the team’s rookie contingent this season. — Julia Stumbaugh, azcentral, "Phoenix Mercury's upcoming schedule provides opportunity for adjusting rookies," 3 July 2019 The offer was accepted, contingent upon final negotiations and a formal agreement. — Kate Gibson, CBS News, "Arizona city will still pay Nike millions to help open plant there," 3 July 2019 New York's Pride March starts at noon, with 677 contingents marching together. — Elizabeth Lawrence, USA TODAY, "Hundreds of thousands expected to celebrate World Pride in NYC," 30 June 2019 This radical contingent rejects the increasingly corporate nature of NYC Pride. — Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, "There is a radical new alternative to the NYC Pride march that rejects corporate influence," 27 June 2019 Here, the Green Party recently became the country’s third- largest contingent in the European Parliament. — Catherine Rampell, The Denver Post, "Rampell: France’s carbon tax was a disaster, but there might be a less politically fraught way," 23 June 2019 Green had a strong Australian contingent in her corner all weekend. — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, "Not even Hannah Green thought she could win at Hazeltine, but she did," 23 June 2019 The Posse contingent started 11 strong, including longtime members who are retirees from and former employees of The Dallas Morning News (like me), and newbies like Jason Shane of HangryQ.com, who shot video. — Gary Jacobson, Dallas News, "BBQ Posse journeys into heart of Texas to find perfect plate," 17 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'contingent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.