contingent
kun-TIN-junt
/kənˈtɪn.dʒənt/
Subject to chance; dependent for existence or occurrence on something else not yet certain.
Contingent implies a logical or legal 'if-then' relationship. It is about conditionality.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'contingere', meaning 'to touch upon'. It originally described things that happened to touch each other by chance, evolving into the idea of one event 'touching' or affecting the outcome of another.
Word relationships
- conditional: Conditional is more common in everyday speech; contingent is more formal and often used in legal or technical contexts.
- absolute: Absolute means something will happen regardless of other factors.
Commonly confused with
- contiguous: Contiguous means touching or sharing a border; contingent means dependent on.
Word family
- contingency (noun): A future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.
Collocations
- contingent upon
- contingent plan
- contingent liability
Example sentences
- "The sale of the house is contingent upon the buyer securing a mortgage within thirty days." A business contract negotiation.
- "The success of the revolution was contingent on the support of the local peasantry." Philosophical debate on history.
Memory hook
Think of a 'contingency plan'—it's a plan you 'touch' only if something else happens. Contingent: Can't happen unless...
When not to use
Do not use 'contingent' to describe emotional need; it is for events, plans, or legal agreements.
Fun facts
- In logic, a 'contingent' proposition is one that is neither necessarily true nor necessarily false.
Related words
Explore more words
contingency, provisional, aleatory, stochastic, fortuitous, occasional
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