| Library / English Dictionary |
CONTINGENT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A gathering of persons representative of some larger group
Example:
each nation sent a contingent of athletes to the Olympics
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Hypernyms ("contingent" is a kind of...):
assemblage; gathering (a group of persons together in one place)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A temporary military unit
Example:
the peacekeeping force includes one British contingent
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
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)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Uncertain because of uncontrollable circumstances
Example:
the results of confession were not contingent, they were certain
Classified under:
Similar:
uncertain (not certain to occur; not inevitable)
Derivation:
contingency (the state of being contingent on something)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Being determined by conditions or circumstances that follow
Example:
arms sales contingent on the approval of congress
Synonyms:
contingent; contingent on; contingent upon; dependant on; dependant upon; dependent on; dependent upon; depending on
Classified under:
Similar:
conditional (imposing or depending on or containing a condition)
Derivation:
contingency (the state of being contingent on something)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Possible but not certain to occur
Example:
they had to plan for contingent expenses
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
possible (capable of happening or existing)
Derivation:
contingency (a possible event or occurrence or result)
