# contingent

/kənˈtɪndʒənt/ (US) · /kəntˈɪndʒənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/contingent
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. dependent on something

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

happening only if something else happens first.

For teachers: dependent on or conditioned by something else; occurring only if certain circumstances are met.

- The sale of the house is contingent on the buyer getting a bank loan.
- The success of the merger is contingent upon the board's approval of the revised financial projections by the end of the quarter.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'on' or 'upon'.

### 2. uncertain or possible

adjective · CEFR C2 · Academic · Technical

describing something that might happen but is not certain.

For teachers: referring to an event that is possible but not guaranteed to occur; not logically necessary.

- We need to plan for contingent risks that might affect our travel.
- The philosopher argued that human existence is a contingent fact rather than a logical necessity.

### 3. a representative group

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a group of people who represent a larger organization or country.

For teachers: a gathering of persons representative of some larger group; often used for military units or political delegations.

- The French contingent at the conference was the largest one there.
- The largest contingent of peacekeepers was deployed to the border region to monitor the ceasefire agreement.

### 4. an unexpected event

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

an event that might happen in the future, especially one that causes problems.

For teachers: an incidental event or circumstance that is unforeseen or dependent on chance.

- The budget includes a small amount of money for any unexpected contingent.
- The legal team prepared for every possible contingent that might arise during the cross-examination of the lead witness.

Usage: In modern usage, 'contingency' is more common for this sense.

## Examples

- The French contingent arrived at the conference this morning.
- The local police force sent a small contingent of officers to help manage the crowds at the national parade.
- While the main body of the army remained in the valley, a small contingent of scouts was dispatched to survey the mountain passes for any sign of movement.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.