contingency

[kuhn-tin-juhn-see]

noun

plural

contingencies 

1. dependence on chance or on the fulfillment of a condition; uncertainty; fortuitousness.

   Nothing was left to contingency.

2. a contingent event; a chance, accident, or possibility conditional on something uncertain.

   He was prepared for every contingency.

   Synonyms: predicament, likelihood, emergency

3. something incidental to a thing.

contingency

/ kənˈtɪndʒənsɪ /

noun

1. 1. a possible but not very likely future event or condition; eventuality

   2. ( as modifier )

      a contingency plan

2. something dependent on a possible future event

3. a fact, event, etc, incidental to or dependent on something else

4. 1. modification of the meaning of a main clause by use of a bound clause introduced by a binder such as if, when, though, or since Compare adding

   2. ( as modifier )

      a contingency clause

5. logic

   1. the state of being contingent

   2. a contingent statement

6. dependence on chance; uncertainty

7. statistics

   1. the degree of association between theoretical and observed common frequencies of two graded or classified variables. It is measured by the chi-square test

   2. ( as modifier )

      a contingency table

      the contingency coefficient

Word History and Origins

Origin of contingency¹

First recorded in 1555–65; conting(ent) + -ency

Example Sentences

Matt Davies, from Stagecoach, said the company would continue to work towards a resolution and was preparing contingency plans if the drivers go ahead with "unnecessary strike action".

From BBC

“Their reputations are on the line. Our reputations are on the line. Nobody’s saying there’s no risks. But there are contingencies ... mitigation strategies, security packages and contractual regimes that equally meet that risk,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Faculty are exploring how student lab workers can remain employed, and making contingency plans for more cuts.

From Los Angeles Times

According to figures published by the Home Office earlier this week, 131 of more than 300 local authorities in the UK currently house asylum seekers in "contingency accommodation", primarily made up of hotels.

From BBC

According to data published by the Home Office on Thursday, 131 of the UK's over 300 local authorities currently house asylum seekers in so-called contingency accommodation, primarily made up of hotels.

From BBC

Related Words

• emergency 
• eventuality 
• exigency 
• probability