contingency

Noun

contingency (countable and uncountable, plural contingencies)

1. (uncountable) The quality of being contingent, of happening by chance.

   Synonyms:

   possibility, unpredictability, option, choice, alternative

   Antonyms:

   inevitability, impossibility

2. (countable) A possibility; something which may or may not happen. A chance occurrence, especially in finance, unexpected expenses.
   • There was also the imperative necessity of creating a reserve fund for unforeseen contingencies, and the question ever present was how was money to be found.1909, John Claude White, Sikhim and Bhutan, page 29
   • In light of the inherent survival threat posed by zombies and absent specified guidance for detailed planning to address such a contingency, USSTRATCOM has taken the initiative to develop a JOPES Level 3 plan (CONPLAN) consistent with guidance derived from other specified planning efforts to ensure...2011 April 30, United States Strategic Command, CONPLAN 8888-11 "COUNTER-ZOMBIE DOMINANCE" (PDF), archived from the original on 15 Mar 2023, SITUATION

   Synonyms:

   chance, contingent, eventuality, possibility, potentiality

   Antonyms:

   castle in the air, impossibility, pie in the sky, pipe dream

3. (countable) An amount of money which a party to a contract has to pay to the other party (usually the supplier of a major project to the client) if they do not fulfill the contract according to the specification.
4. (countable) A statement which is neither a tautology nor a contradiction.