contingent

1 of 2

adjective

con·​tin·​gent kən-ˈtin-jənt How to pronounce contingent (audio)
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
4
a
: 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
contingently adverb

contingent

2 of 2

noun

1
: a representative group : delegation, detachment
a diplomatic contingent
2
: something contingent (see contingent entry 1) : contingency
Choose the Right Synonym for contingent

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and resentment of the people to whom he spoke, but his words were somehow tentative and contingent, as if they could be withdrawn on a month's notice.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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Senators are largely united on both sides of the aisle about the need to approve more aid for both countries, but Republicans in the upper chamber say their support for aid to Ukraine is also contingent on additional border security measures. Sara Dorn, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 The ability of the far right to break into the castle has always been contingent on the center-right establishment lowering the drawbridge. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023 Hezbollah’s pause would be contingent on Israel not attacking Lebanon. Adam Chamseddine, WSJ, 23 Nov. 2023 Durbin was the first senator to call for a cease-fire in Gaza, saying on CNN that a cease-fire should be contingent on the release of hostages. Sarah Beth Hensley, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2023 While contingent elections have happened three times in American history, there hasn’t been one for almost two hundred years. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 25 Oct. 2023 Whereas other economic sectors have long cared a lot about how effort is organized, knowledge-work managers, for a combination of historically contingent reasons, have traditionally left these details up to individuals. Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2023 In a novella structured like a mix tape and written in the cadence and rhyme scheme of rap lyrics, a dying football star’s resurrection is contingent on limitations to his native abilities. Amal El-Mohtar, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2023 Productions across television and film have come to a halt in the wake of the strikes, jeopardizing crew members’ access to healthcare plans contingent upon working a minimum number of days to qualify. Matthew Ismael Ruiz, Pitchfork, 14 Sep. 2023
Noun
An equally enthusiastic contingent hails the Kings as the NBA team pursues a resurgence. Leilani Marie Labong, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023 But a small contingent of SAG-AFTRA members have been unimpressed with some changes, most specifically, the language surrounding AI and the use of digital replicas. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2023 Brazilian and Argentinian fans started fighting behind one of the goals during the national anthems, prompting police to charge at the traveling contingent with night sticks drawn. Reuters, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023 Among the more than 320 booths are sizable contingents in pavilions from Cambodia, China, Italy, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. Gavin J Blair, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2023 What has been called ‘New Tone’ brought their contingent to represent as well. Heather Augustyn, Spin, 10 Oct. 2023 At least, that’s what a contingent of oldest sisters has been saying online. Sarah Sloat, The Atlantic, 14 Nov. 2023 Losing population and businesses, city leaders worked to turn things around in the 1990s, which coincided with a contingent of Somali refugees’ discovering the city and deciding to resettle here. Alex Seitz-Wald, NBC News, 27 Oct. 2023 Unsurprisingly, there was also a heavy fashion contingent, with designer Zac Posen (who was presented with a special dessert to mark his birthday), Brandon Maxwell, Jonathan Cohen, and Markarian’s Alexandra O’Neill all in attendance as well. Vogue, 25 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contingent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of contingent was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near contingent

Cite this Entry

“Contingent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contingent. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

contingent

1 of 2 adjective
con·​tin·​gent kən-ˈtin-jənt How to pronounce contingent (audio)
: depending on something else
plans contingent on the weather
contingently adverb

contingent

2 of 2 noun
: a number of persons representing or drawn from an area or group
Etymology

Adjective

Middle English contingent "uncertain," from early French contingent "touching, happening," derived from Latin contingere "to have contact with, affect, happen" — related to contact, contagious

Legal Definition

contingent

adjective
con·​tin·​gent kən-ˈtin-jənt How to pronounce contingent (audio)
1
: likely but not certain to happen compare executory
2
: intended for use in circumstances not completely foreseen
a contingent fund
3
: dependent on or conditioned by something else
a contingent claim
a legacy contingent on the marriage
compare vested

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