contingency

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/ UK /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a future event that is possible but not certain; a provision for such

The budget set aside funds for any unforeseen contingency.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a future event that is... possibility eventuality emergency chance uncertainty exigency fortuity

Opposites

certainty necessity inevitability

Word family

Related forms contingent contact contiguous

Etymology

From Medieval Latin contingentia ('a touching, chance occurrence'), from Latin contingere ('to touch, befall'), from con- ('together') + tangere ('to touch').

contingentia Latin tangere Latin *tag- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# contingency

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/
**IPA (UK):** /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/

## Meanings
1. a future event that is possible but not certain; a provision for such

## Examples
- The budget set aside funds for any unforeseen contingency.

## Synonyms
- possibility
- eventuality
- emergency
- chance
- uncertainty
- exigency
- fortuity

## Antonyms
- certainty
- necessity
- inevitability

## Related Forms
- contingent
- contact
- contiguous

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: contingentia
- Root: tangere
- Root: *tag-

## Etymology
From Medieval Latin contingentia ('a touching, chance occurrence'), from Latin contingere ('to touch, befall'), from con- ('together') + tangere ('to touch').

## AI Etymology
Contingency is from Medieval Latin contingentia ('a touching, chance occurrence'), from Latin contingere ('to touch, befall'), from con- ('together') + tangere ('to touch'). In present-day use, it means a future event that is possible but not certain; a provision for such. Related vocabulary includes contingent, contact, and contiguous.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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