contingents

Definition of contingentsnext
plural of contingent
1
as in delegations
a body of persons chosen as representatives of a larger group the local Scout troop traditionally sends a large contingent to the jamboree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in events
something that might happen officials in charge of managing the national emergency tried to prepare for every contingent, no matter how improbable

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of contingents Those comments have caused a lot of confusion and angst among European governments—many of whom have sent small military contingents to Greenland, not really as a show of force as much as a signal of disapproval. Connor Okeeffe, Oc Register, 21 Jan. 2026 Last week, several European nations sent small contingents of troops to Greenland for exercises. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026 The changes have been celebrated by some conservative lawmakers, anti-trans groups and some contingents of parents and athletes who believe trans women’s participation tips the scales of fairness. Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026 Just about every facet of the OIGC family will be represented, including contingents from the Youth Choir and the 200-strong Community Choir. Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025 But the craziest moment came when two matches with large contingents of fans were scheduled simultaneously and on adjoining courts. Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025 The congressman might be surprised to learn that, a little more than a century ago, his own state had been home to one of the strongest contingents of socialists in America. Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025 Security was reinforced on the streets of the capital with extra contingents of the military and judicial police, sniffer dogs, and intelligence officers. Adriana Carranca, Time, 12 Sep. 2025 Among them were large contingents from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Patek Philippe. Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contingents
Noun
  • The celebration will feature the parade of delegations, the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, a performance by Mariah Carey and an act by Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 1 Jan. 2026
  • The two volunteered at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea, at a time when both Koreas were actively interacting politically and culturally, with Pyongyang sending athletes and diplomatic delegations to South Korea – a warming of ties which has since gone into reverse.
    Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • The producers and the author were doing kind of book events and the lines were like several times around the block.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Expect to see more one-off events across the industry in an attempt to get people back to theaters.
    Ellie Austin, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Third-place teams complicate the USMNT’s possibilities At first glance, there is only one straightforward scenario.
    Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Now as then, a strongman has been dislodged in Venezuela, and the field of possibilities has expanded.
    Michael Albertus, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Year-to-year contingencies within institutions add another layer of complexity when trying to read trend lines.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The source also noted to the outlet that despite the underground facilities being dismantled, there are still contingencies in place to keep the president safe in the case of an emergency.
    Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Interestingly, Senior Bowl players said NIL money doesn’t cause problems in most cases.
    Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
  • People who were taking care of the infected pigs became the first human cases.
    Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contingents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contingents. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on contingents

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!