First Known Use: 1561
Dictionary
contingency
noun con·tin·gen·cy \kən-ˈtin-jən(t)-sē\
: something (such as an emergency) that might happen
plural con·tin·gen·cies
Full Definition of CONTINGENCY
1
: the quality or state of being contingent
2
: a contingent event or condition: as a : an event (as an emergency) that may but is not certain to occur <trying to provide for every contingency> b : something liable to happen as an adjunct to or result of something else
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Examples of CONTINGENCY
- Nothing was overlooked. There was a fallback position, a fail-safe provision, for any contingency. —Gary Wills, New York Times Review of Books, 1 Apr. 2001
- It is difficult to distinguish all the legitimate and illegitimate kinds and uses of information. Writing laws to regulate all contingencies is like trying to capture broth in a colander. —George F. Will, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 1987
- Was it merely the expression of her displeasure at Miss Bart's neglect, or had disquieting rumours reached her? The latter contingency seemed improbable, yet Lily was not without a sense of uneasiness. —Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, 1905
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Origin of CONTINGENCY
(see 1contingent)
Related to CONTINGENCY
- Synonyms
- case, contingence, event, contingent, eventuality, possibility
Synonym Discussion of CONTINGENCY
juncture, exigency, emergency, contingency, pinch, straits, crisis mean a critical or crucial time or state of affairs. juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events <an important juncture in our country's history>. exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation <provide for exigencies>. emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster <the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies>. contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence <contingency plans>. pinch implies urgency or pressure for action to a less intense degree than exigency or emergency <come through in a pinch>. straits applies to a troublesome situation from which escape is extremely difficult <in dire straits>. crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference <a crisis of confidence>.
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