| English Dictionary |
CONTINGENT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does contingent mean?
• CONTINGENT (noun)
The noun CONTINGENT has 2 senses:
1. a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
2. a temporary military unit
Familiarity information: CONTINGENT used as a noun is rare.
• CONTINGENT (adjective)
The adjective CONTINGENT has 3 senses:
1. possible but not certain to occur
2. being determined by conditions or circumstances that follow
3. uncertain because of uncontrollable circumstances
Familiarity information: CONTINGENT used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A gathering of persons representative of some larger group
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Context example:
each nation sent a contingent of athletes to the Olympics
Hypernyms ("contingent" is a kind of...):
assemblage; gathering (a group of persons together in one place)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A temporary military unit
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Synonyms:
contingent; detail
Context example:
the peacekeeping force includes one British contingent
Hypernyms ("contingent" is a kind of...):
force; military force; military group; military unit (a unit that is part of some military service)
Domain category:
armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Possible but not certain to occur
Context example:
they had to plan for contingent expenses
Similar:
possible (capable of happening or existing)
Derivation:
contingency (a possible event or occurrence or result)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Being determined by conditions or circumstances that follow
Synonyms:
contingent; contingent on; contingent upon; dependant on; dependant upon; dependent on; dependent upon; depending on
Context example:
arms sales contingent on the approval of congress
Similar:
conditional (imposing or depending on or containing a condition)
Derivation:
contingency (the state of being contingent on something)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Uncertain because of uncontrollable circumstances
Context example:
the results of confession were not contingent, they were certain
Similar:
uncertain (not certain to occur; not inevitable)
Derivation:
contingency (the state of being contingent on something)
Context examples
Apparently the great hospitals had each sent down their contingent.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Additional description of the contingent on relationship.
(Defined Contingent On Relationship Comment, NCI Thesaurus)
At the corner of Arlington Street our contingent got out and strolled into the Green Park.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
My friend Heep has not fixed the positive remuneration at too high a figure, but he has made a great deal, in the way of extrication from the pressure of pecuniary difficulties, contingent on the value of my services; and on the value of those services I pin my faith.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
The rest was left contingent on the value of my professional exertions; in other and more expressive words, on the baseness of my nature, the cupidity of my motives, the poverty of my family, the general moral (or rather immoral) resemblance between myself and—HEEP.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
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