contingent
/kənˈtɪndʒənt/ (bre, ipa) · /kənˈtɪndʒənt/ (ame, ipa) · /kən-ˈtin-jənt/ (ame, mw) · /kənˈtɪn.dʒənt/ (bre, ipa) · /kənˈtɪn.dʒənt/ (ame, ipa)
contingent — noun
- contingentsingular
- contingentsplural
1. a body of people who share a common place of origin, belong to the same organiza
a body of people who share a common place of origin, belong to the same organization, or serve in the armed forces together, and are typically sent to represent a larger group at an event or on an operation
The Brazilian contingent at the climate summit included scientists, diplomats, and indigenous leaders.
contingent + of + place/nationality + at + event
A small contingent of UN peacekeepers was sent to monitor the border after the ceasefire.
Each university sent a contingent of students to the national debating championship.
The French contingent marched proudly during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
The largest contingent of volunteers came from a single church in the town of Belém.
- delegation
more civilian, often diplomatic or political
- detachment
more military-specific, often smaller
- squad
smaller and less formal, usually military or police
文法句型
contingent + of + group name / number
用法筆記
Common in news reports, politics, and military contexts. The verb that follows can be singular or plural: 'a contingent of soldiers was/were sent.' Singular is more common in formal British English.
常見錯誤
2. an event, situation, or outcome that depends on another factor and may or may no
an event, situation, or outcome that depends on another factor and may or may not happen, so that it cannot be treated as certain until that other factor is decided
The final payment was a contingent of the peace agreement, dependent on both sides disarming.
Tara's admission to the programme was a contingent — it would be confirmed only after the language test.
be + a contingent — formal structure for conditional situations
Karim treated the bonus as a contingent rather than a certainty, knowing the budget could still change.
The court ruled that the inheritance was a contingent, subject to the fraud investigation's outcome.
- contingency
much more common; preferred in everyday and professional writing
- eventuality
slightly more formal, focuses on the possibility itself
- certainty
something that is guaranteed to happen
文法句型
a + contingent + of + something
be + a + contingent
用法筆記
Very formal and rare in everyday speech. In most contexts, the more common noun form 'contingency' is preferred ('a contingency plan', 'prepare for contingencies'). This sense is primarily used in legal contracts and technical writing.
常見錯誤
contingent — adjective
- contingentpositive
- more contingentcomparative
- most contingentsuperlative
1. needing a particular future event, condition, or arrangement to happen or be tru
needing a particular future event, condition, or arrangement to happen or be true first, before something else can be certain or take place
The ceasefire was contingent on both sides agreeing to withdraw their troops from the border.
contingent + on + noun/gerund
Felix's promotion was contingent upon completing a six-month training programme in Singapore.
The scholarship is contingent on the student maintaining a grade average above eighty percent.
Their support for the policy was contingent on several key amendments being added to the bill.
Whether they proceed with the building work is contingent on how the council votes next week.
- conditional
more formal and legal; strongly implies terms that must be met
- dependent
more general; can refer to any kind of reliance, not just future events
- unconditional
not subject to any conditions or requirements
- independent
not relying on something else
文法句型
be + contingent + on/upon + noun/gerund
contingent + on + whether / what / how clause
用法筆記
This is the most common sense of the adjective. It is almost always used with 'on' or 'upon'. 'Upon' is more formal. The adjective is used predicatively (after the verb 'be'), not before a noun — you cannot say 'the contingent agreement' to mean 'the agreement that depends on something' (that would be sense 2).
常見錯誤
2. possible but not guaranteed — used to describe something that could happen or be
possible but not guaranteed — used to describe something that could happen or be required, but only if particular conditions are met, often in financial or planning contexts
The company set aside funds for contingent expenses that might arise during the merger.
contingent + noun — attributive use
João signed a contract with a contingent payment of two million dollars if the drug passed trials.
The government budget included a contingent allocation for disaster relief, to be released only if needed.
A contingent agreement was drawn up, leaving both sides room to withdraw if conditions changed.
The firm listed contingent liabilities of fifteen million dollars in its annual financial report.
- potential
more common in general English; focuses on possibility without emphasizing conditions
- conditional
more legal in tone; emphasizes that terms must be satisfied
文法句型
contingent + noun
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense is used before a noun (attributive), not after 'be'. Common in business and legal phrases: 'contingent payment', 'contingent liability', 'contingent fee'. The emphasis is on the possibility itself, not on what the thing depends on.
常見錯誤
3. happening or existing as a result of chance or forces that no one can control, s
happening or existing as a result of chance or forces that no one can control, so that the result cannot be predicted with confidence
Success in organic farming is highly contingent — a late frost can destroy an entire season's crop.
highly + contingent — common intensifier pattern
Emre found the outcome of the job interview frustratingly contingent, with too many factors outside his control.
The timing of the wedding remained contingent, as the family waited for travel documents to be approved.
In live theatre, success is entirely contingent — a single missed cue can change everything.
- unpredictable
more common in everyday English; broader in meaning
- uncertain
more general; does not necessarily imply external forces
- random
emphasizes lack of pattern; often less formal
- predictable
able to be known or guessed in advance
- certain
known for sure, not open to doubt
文法句型
be + contingent
be + highly/entirely/totally + contingent
用法筆記
This sense emphasizes unpredictability caused by external forces, not by a specific condition (sense 1) or a planned possibility (sense 2). Often used with 'highly', 'entirely', or 'totally' to intensify the uncertainty. Common in discussions of complex systems such as weather, politics, and live events.