contingency Hear it!

contingency Definition

con·tin·gency (-jən sē)

noun pl. -·cies

  1. the quality or condition of being contingent; esp., dependence on chance or uncertain conditions
  2. something whose occurrence depends on chance or uncertain conditions; a possible, unforeseen, or accidental occurrence be prepared for any contingency
  3. some thing or event which depends on or is incidental to another the contingencies of war

Etymology: see contingence

contingency Synonyms

contingency

n.

  1. Possibility

    likelihood, chance, odds; see chance 1, possibility 2, probability.

  2. Accident

    predicament, incident, emergency, exigency; see accident 2, emergency. See syn. study at emergency.

contingency Law Definition

n

A future event or circumstance whose occurrence is not certain.
contingency fee
A fee charged for a lawyer’s services in an action that is paid only if the client wins his or her lawsuit or receives a payment from an out-of-court settlement. Usually, the fee is a percentage of the amount recovered. Further-more, whatever the result of the action, the client will pay the court costs and the other out-of-pocket expenses (postage, subpoena fees, and so on) incurred by the lawyer during the course of the action. Although contingency fees are frequently charged for a lawyer’s services in a civil action, it is unethical to charge this way for services in a criminal action. Also called contingent fee. See also attorney’s fees and champerty.
contingency Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • implement: All relevant workers must be trained in the action to be taken in order to implement the contingency plans made.
  • prepare: The army is already preparing contingency plans to provide cover if the firefighters walk out.
  • estimate: No contingency is needed in developer estimates No contingency is necessary as requirements that don't fit are dropped or rescheduled by the Customer.

Adjective modifier

  • sensorimotor: O&N, in contrast, propose that active manipulation of sensorimotor contingencies is required.
  • unforeseen: If an unforeseen contingency arises, the rules will reach a dead end.
  • civil: The difference was due to Cuba's civil defense contingencies.
  • historical: Thus God's eternal purpose would be dependent on historical contingency.
  • radical: His unifying theme - and challenge to conventional theory - is the radical contingency of the metropolis.
  • adequate: These mistakes included their failure to complete adequate contingency and passage planning.

Modifies a noun

  • plan: I was laying down contingency plans in case we failed to appoint an organist.
  • planning: Contingency planning should include the ability to call on vets in the private sector at short notice.
  • theater: Contingency theaters require ADA coverage for each stage of the operation.
  • arrangement: In such cases, a consultancy is said to be working on a contingency arrangement.
  • fund: Local colleges may have financial contingency funds which are used to assist students in hardship.
  • table: The program goes through the steps of carrying out a c 2 contingency table test.

Noun used with modifier

  • spill: Oil spill contingency plans will be necessary, together with a broad examination of environmental implications.
  • influenza: Agenda items SARS & Pandemic influenza contingency plans - Members were provided with an update on progress on these plans.
  • disaster: The associated Plan Master program helps you draw up a detailed disaster contingency plan.
  • emergency: Since the fire the company has reviewed its maintenance procedures and worked with the fire service to examine emergency contingency plans.
  • oil: Oil spill contingency plans will be necessary, together with a broad examination of environmental implications.