contingency

Something that might happen, especially a problem or expense you need to prepare for.

• We need a contingency plan.
• Keep some money aside for unexpected contingencies.
• The team tried to prepare for every contingency.

How to use it: allow for a contingency (The budget allows for contingencies such as equipment repairs.)

Similar words: possibility, eventuality

Common phrases: contingency plan, contingency fund, every contingency

The fact that something depends on chance or on conditions that could be different.

• Their account emphasizes the contingency of historical events.
• The philosopher contrasted contingency with necessity.
• Contingency means that a different outcome was possible.

Similar words: possibility, unpredictability, option, choice

Opposites: necessity

Common phrases: historical contingency, contingency of something

Money one side must pay the other if it fails to do what a contract requires.

• The supplier had to pay a contingency.
• The contract sets the contingency at ten thousand euros.
• Failure to finish the project triggered a contingency payment.

Similar words: contractual penalty

Common phrases: pay a contingency, contractual contingency, contingency payment

A statement that can be true or false, rather than always true or always false.

• This statement is a contingency.
• A contingency has both true and false entries in its truth table.
• Students must distinguish a contingency from a contradiction.

Similar words: contingent proposition

Common phrases: logical contingency, contingency in logic