Contingent Definition
kən-tĭnjənt
contingents
adjective
Touching; tangential.
Webster's New World
That may or may not happen; possible.
Webster's New World
Happening by chance; accidental; fortuitous.
Webster's New World
Dependent (on or upon something uncertain); conditional.
Webster's New World
Unpredictable because dependent on chance.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- dependent upon
- depending (on)
- dependant upon
- dependant on
- dependent on
- contingent upon
- contingent on
- accidental
- dependent
- inadvertent
- odd
- casual
- fortuitous
- chance
- fluky
noun
contingents
A group or detachment, as of troops or police, assigned to aid a larger force.
American Heritage
An accidental or chance happening.
Webster's New World
A share or quota, as of troops, laborers, delegates, etc.
Webster's New World
A group forming part of a larger group.
Webster's New World
An event or condition that is likely but not inevitable.
American Heritage
Other Word Forms of Contingent
Noun
Singular:
contingent
Plural:
contingentsOrigin of Contingent
From Old French contingent, from Medieval Latin contingens (“possible, contingent”), properly present participle of Latin contingere (“to touch, meet, attain to, happen”), from com- (“together”) + tangere (“to touch”).
From Wiktionary
-
Middle English from Latin contingēns contingent- present participle of contingere to touch contact
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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