con|tin´gent|ness

con|tin|gent «kuhn TIHN juhnt», noun, adjective.

–n.

1. a share of soldiers, laborers, or other persons furnished to a force from different sources: »

The United States sent a large contingent of troops to Europe in World War II.

2. a group that is a part of a larger group: »

The New York contingent had seats together at the national convention.

3. something accidental or unexpected.

4. a portion or share assigned; allotment: »

The young heir's contingent of the estate was smaller than he had hoped for.

–adj.

1. depending on something uncertain; conditional: »

Our plans for a picnic are contingent upon fair weather.

2. liable to happen or not to happen; possible; uncertain: »

The traveler set aside five dollars a day for contingent expenses.

3. happening by chance; accidental; unexpected: »

If they had no contingent meeting, he determined to plan one.

4. Logic. accidentally existing or true; not existing or occurring through necessity: »

All statements about “human nature” are contingent upon the meaning of “human” and “nature.”

5. Law. dependent on events or circumstances that may occur.

6. Accounting. depending on or for use in the event of unforeseeable or uncertain circumstances: »

a contingent fund.

╂[< Latin contingēns, -entis touching (on the sides), present participle of contingere; see etym. under contact (Cf. ↑contact)]

–con|tin´gent|ly, adverb.

–con|tin´gent|ness, noun.