contingent suggests possibility of happening but stresses uncertainty and dependence on other future events for existence or occurrence.

CONTINGENT definition: dependent for existence, occurrence, character, etc., on something not yet certain; conditional (often followed by on orupon ). See examples of contingent used in a sentence.

When an event or situation is contingent, it means that it depends on some other event or fact. For example, sometimes buying a new house has to be contingent upon someone else buying your old …

1. dependent on something not yet certain; conditional: plans contingent on the weather. 2. liable to happen or not; uncertain; possible: contingent expenses. 3. happening by chance or without known …

contingent on/upon sth The contract is contingent on approval by the Board of Trustees.

Dec 10, 2025 · contingent (plural contingents) An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something in the future. synonyms

If something is contingent on something else, the first thing depends on the second in order to happen or exist.

a group of people at a meeting or an event who have something in common, especially the place they come from, that is not shared by other people at the event. The largest contingent was from the …

a group of soldiers, ships, etc., assembled to help a larger force: His contingent was sent to Saudi Arabia. any one of the groups that make up a larger group: The gay and lesbian contingent of the …

There are 21 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word contingent, five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.