contingent

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

Other Words from contingent Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about contingent

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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and resentment of the people to whom he spoke, but his words were somehow tentative and contingent, as if they could be withdrawn on a month's notice.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 The vaccines for school workers will be contingent on those schools offering in-person learning, according to Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. — Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, "Gov. Mike DeWine says coronavirus vaccines for older Ohioans, school workers to begin in two weeks," 5 Jan. 2021 Idaho officials have released a rough timeline for when residents can expect their turn to get the COVID-19 vaccination, though much of the planning remains a work in progress and is contingent on the state’s supply and demand. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, "‘Diddy’ delivers, chicken coops, New Year’s Eve restrictions: News from around our 50 states," 31 Dec. 2020 Access is explicitly not contingent on work location, only on job category. — Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, "Should I Accept Free Covid Testing I Don’t Really Need?," 3 Nov. 2020 The Dallas Covenant boys contingent, lead by titlist William Peters, was equally impressive in 4A, collecting its fifth straight team championship. — Mike Waters, Dallas News, "2020 TAPPS state championship cross country results: Three Dallas-area schools win team titles, Ursuline denied No. 16," 3 Nov. 2020 The Veterans Administration, Homeland Security, contingent overseas budgets to fight the Islamic State, and parts of the Energy Department (atomic arsenal), State Department and FBI add another $298 billion. — Arkansas Online, "OPINION | JIM LYNCH: The might of military spending," 30 Aug. 2020 The plan is also contingent on schools being in session, either in-person or a hybrid model. — Lori Riley, courant.com, "Football to be played this fall, season will start Oct. 1, CIAC will make an announcement Thursday," 26 Aug. 2020 The agreement with Pfizer covers 12.8 million doses to vaccinate 6.4 million people and is contingent on the vaccine being approved by the U.S. FDA and Malaysia’s regulator. — Claire Jiao, Bloomberg.com, "Southeast Asia Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker: Who Gets What, When," 16 Dec. 2020 That spending plan was contingent on additional federal funding that hasn’t materialized. — Jimmy Vielkind, WSJ, "New York State Lawmakers Weigh Tax Increase on Wealthy," 16 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun While the relationship between a contingent of Auburn fans and Malzahn has been tepid at times over the last eight seasons, Malzahn’s bond with his players has been a steady and unbreakable one. — Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, "Gus Malzahn ‘blessed’ and ‘honored’ to reach century mark as Auburn’s coach," 20 Nov. 2020 Miller and other senior staff and a media contingent traveled Wednesday to meet with troops and leaders at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and then flew out to the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, off the coast of Virginia. — Lolita C. Baldor, Star Tribune, "Top Pentagon official tests positive for coronavirus," 19 Nov. 2020 In-person learning -- involving multiple safety measures and contingent upon the vagaries of the pandemic and government mandates -- is the approach favored by most educators and many district parents. — cleveland, "Independence Schools will open for in-person learning -- for now," 4 Aug. 2020 Over time, the contingent of soccer players, politicians and celebrities displayed on the street has grown steadily. — Pietro Lombardi, WSJ, "For One Prized Italian Tradition, Covid-19 Deals Heartbreaking Blow," 12 Dec. 2020 Whatever the big-name contingent might lack, the younger players compensate for with wonderfully energetic song-and-dance numbers and true Broadway belts. — Brian Lowry, CNN, "'The Prom' unleashes its stars in an infectious, high-energy musical," 10 Dec. 2020 With a time of 25 minutes, 48 seconds, Brennan led the American contingent for the second straight day. — Beth Bragg, Anchorage Daily News, "No stranger to the World Cup’s top 10, Anchorage’s Rosie Brennan skis to 8th place in Finland," 28 Nov. 2020 While first-year coach Mike Norvell’s team is the youngest in the country with more than 73% freshmen and sophomores, the Virginia contingent say the talent is still evident. — Hank Kurz Jr., orlandosentinel.com, "Struggling Florida State set to host potent Virginia," 27 Nov. 2020 The Irish contingent could grow in the coming weeks as the Senior Bowl continues to fill its rosters. — Eric Hansen, The Indianapolis Star, "Notre Dame football: Bye week was hardly uneventful for No. 2 Irish," 24 Nov. 2020

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.

History and Etymology for contingent

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin contingent-, contingens "dependent on circumstances, occurring by chance," going back to Latin, present participle of contingere "to be in contact with, arrive at, affect, fall to one's lot, come about, happen," from con- con- + tangere "to touch, border on, arrive at, reach" — more at tangent entry 2

Noun

(sense 1) borrowed from French, "portion that falls to one as a return, part given or received in a common effort, body of troops contributed by an ally," noun derivative of contingent, adjective, "falling to someone as a share, dependent, contingent entry 1"; (sense 2) noun derivative of contingent entry 1

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