noun

contingency

kuhn-TIHND-zhuhn-see

noun

An event or circumstance that might happen but is not certain; a possible future situation planned for in advance.

"The company has a contingency plan in case the main supplier falls through."

How to Use Contingency

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA possible future event that you prepare for just in case it happens.

Common pairings

contingency plan contingency fund

contingencies plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

The company has a _____ plan in case the main supplier falls through.

From contingent + the noun-forming suffix -y, tracing back to Latin contingere ("to happen, to touch upon").

noncontingency

agency urgency potency decency regency currency tendency clemency leniency frequency emergency residency

noncontingency