contingency
gb/kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi/ us/kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi/
C1
Inglês
~ 7000
Aceções
0 aceções
Nome
formal
C1
event
1
possible but uncertain future event
A possible future event that might happen and that you should be ready for.
Padrão de uso:
plan for [any/every] contingency
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use 'contingency' only for emergencies. In fact, it means any possible future event, not always something very bad. Also, learners may confuse it with 'emergency'; 'emergency' is when the problem is happening now, while 'contingency' is about a possible problem in the future.
Sinónimos
eventuality (Formal; stresses any possible event, good or bad, not only negative ones.)
|
possibility (More general and common; does not strongly suggest the need for planning the way 'contingency' does.)
|
risk (Highlights potential danger or loss, while 'contingency' is more neutral and about being ready.)
Antónimos
certainty (Opposite because a certainty is sure to happen, while a contingency might or might not happen.)
Colocações
contingency plan
|in any contingency
|plan for every contingency
|foreseeable contingencies
|unexpected contingencies
|prepare for all contingencies
Temas
business
|safety
|planning
|daily_life
Exemplos
- The company has a detailed contingency for a possible data breach.
- We need to think about every contingency before launching the new product.
- There was no contingency in place for a complete power failure.
- The evacuation drill is part of our contingency for natural disasters.
- Governments often overlook the worst-case contingencies when making policy.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- They made a plan for this kind of contingency.
- We must be ready for any contingency during the trip.
- The team talked about possible contingencies before the game.
- The school has a contingency if the weather is very bad.
- The manager asked us to list all likely contingencies.
Nome
formal
C1
entity
2
extra reserve for possible problems
Extra money, time, or things that you keep in case a problem happens later.
Padrão de uso:
[a/an] contingency in [a budget/plan]
Erro comum:
Learners may confuse this with a general 'savings' or 'profit'. A contingency is usually part of a plan or budget, reserved only for possible extra costs or problems, not for regular spending.
Sinónimos
reserve (Very close in meaning; slightly more general and common in everyday speech.)
|
buffer (Suggests protection from shocks or sudden changes, often used in finance and planning.)
|
safety margin (Emphasizes the amount of extra space, time, or money that keeps you safe from risk.)
Antónimos
shortfall (Opposite because it means not having enough resources instead of having extra set aside.)
Colocações
contingency fund
|budget contingency
|built-in contingency
|financial contingency
|add a contingency
|allow a contingency
Temas
business
|finance
|planning
Exemplos
- The project budget includes a 10 percent contingency for unforeseen expenses.
- We set up a contingency fund to cover equipment failures.
- There is no contingency in the schedule, so any delay will push back the launch date.
- The contract price has a built-in contingency for currency fluctuations.
- They always keep a contingency to deal with cost overruns.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The company keeps a contingency for bad times.
- Our budget has a small contingency for extra costs.
- We need a contingency in case the work takes longer.
- They put money in a contingency fund every year.
- There is no contingency, so we cannot handle surprises.
Nome
technical
C2
relation
3
condition depending on another event
A rule or agreement that something will happen only if another event happens first.
Padrão de uso:
[something] is done on a contingency basis
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes think 'contingency fee' simply means an 'extra' or 'bonus' fee. In fact, it is a fee that you pay only if a certain result (usually success in a case) is reached.
Sinónimos
condition (General word; does not carry the same formal legal/business tone as 'contingency'.)
|
proviso (Formal and legal; focuses on a specific condition written into an agreement.)
Antónimos
guarantee (Opposite because a guarantee promises a result regardless of other events, while a contingency depends on another event.)
Colocações
contingency fee
|on a contingency basis
|contingency contract
|contingency arrangement
|legal contingency
Temas
law
|business
Exemplos
- The lawyer agreed to work on a contingency, taking a fee only if they won the case.
- Under the contingency in the contract, payment is due only if the project is completed on time.
- Many personal injury cases are handled on a contingency basis.
- The merger is subject to several regulatory contingencies.
- Because of the contingency, investors will only be paid if profits reach a certain level.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The lawyer gets money only on a contingency.
- The contract has a contingency: we pay only if we win.
- His job offer comes with a contingency that he must pass a test.
- The company agreed to a contingency fee for the case.
- Their deal is a contingency based on sales results.
Nome
technical
C2
property
4
state of being not necessary
The idea that something happens or exists only because of certain conditions, and it did not have to be that way.
Padrão de uso:
the contingency of [life/history/events]
Erro comum:
Learners may try to use this abstract sense in everyday planning contexts, where the simpler senses of 'contingency' (possible event or extra reserves) are more natural.
Sinónimos
uncertainty (More everyday; does not capture the full philosophical idea of dependence on conditions.)
|
indeterminacy (Academic; stresses that something is not fixed or predetermined.)
Antónimos
necessity (Direct philosophical opposite: something necessary must be the case, while something contingent could have been otherwise.)
Colocações
the contingency of history
|radical contingency
|historical contingency
|sheer contingency
|recognize the contingency of
Temas
philosophy
|theory
|education
|science
Exemplos
- The book explores the contingency of social norms rather than treating them as fixed truths.
- Many philosophers emphasize the contingency of human existence in an indifferent universe.
- Her argument depends on the historical contingency of current political borders.
- The theory rejects any notion of fate, stressing pure contingency instead.
- He contrasts divine necessity with the contingency of the created world.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The teacher talked about the contingency of our values.
- Some thinkers say there is only contingency, not fate.
- The writer shows the contingency of our laws and rules.
- They argue that culture is a matter of contingency, not nature.
- The article explains the contingency of this political system.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
contingency
IPA
GB/kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi/
US/kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi/
Sílabas e acento
con - tin - gency (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tin)
Formas da palavra
Noun
- Base: contingency
- Plural: contingencies
Família de palavras
Forms
contingencies
noun
Core family
contingent
adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
noncontingent
adjective
Advanced or less common
contingently
adverb
Expressões
allow for contingencies
1/əlˈaʊ fɚ kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsiz/
fixed phrase
formal
include extra for possible problems
To add extra time, money, or space in your plan because problems might happen later.
Exemplos
- The schedule allows for contingencies such as bad weather or equipment failure.
- You should allow for contingencies when estimating the project cost.
- We did not allow for contingencies, so even a small delay caused big issues.
build in a contingency
1/bˈɪld ˈɪn ə kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi/
fixed phrase
include backup or reserve in a plan
To put extra time, money, or another backup part into a plan or system so it can handle problems.
Exemplos
- They built in a contingency to cover unexpected legal costs.
- We should build in a contingency so the project can survive a short delay.
- The design builds in a contingency in case one of the servers fails.
contingency fee
1/kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi fˈi/
fixed phrase
technical
lawyer fee paid only on success
Money you pay a lawyer only if you win the case, usually a part of the money you get.
Exemplos
- The firm charges a contingency fee of 30 percent of any settlement.
- She could afford a lawyer because they offered a contingency fee arrangement.
- Contingency fee agreements are common in personal injury lawsuits.
contingency fund
1/kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi fˈʌnd/
fixed phrase
money saved for possible problems
Money that you keep aside to use only if there is a problem or extra cost in the future.
Exemplos
- The city used its contingency fund to repair the damaged bridge.
- We keep a small contingency fund for sudden home repairs.
- The project’s contingency fund was almost completely spent by the end of the year.
contingency plan
1/kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi plˈæn/
fixed phrase
backup plan for possible problems
A backup plan that you prepare before, so you know what to do if a problem or emergency happens.
Exemplos
- Every hospital is required to have a contingency plan for power outages.
- They activated the contingency plan when the main server failed.
- Without a clear contingency plan, the team panicked during the crisis.
contingency planning
1/kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi plˈænɪŋ/
fixed phrase
process of planning for risks
The work of thinking about and making plans for possible future problems or emergencies.
Exemplos
- Effective contingency planning helped the company stay open during the pandemic.
- The workshop focused on contingency planning for natural disasters.
- Contingency planning is now a standard part of project management.
contingency table
1/kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi tˈeɪbəl/
fixed phrase
technical
statistical table of combined categories
A table in statistics that shows how often different combinations of two or more groups or choices happen together.
Exemplos
- The researcher used a contingency table to examine the relationship between age and voting behavior.
- They entered the survey results into a contingency table before running the chi-square test.
- A simple two-by-two contingency table can show whether the treatment and outcome are related.
cover all contingencies
1/kˈʌvɚ ˈɔl kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsiz/
fixed phrase
prepare for every possible problem
To be ready for every possible future event or problem.
Exemplos
- The risk assessment is designed to cover all contingencies.
- Their emergency procedures clearly do not cover all contingencies.
- It is impossible to cover all contingencies, but we can reduce the main risks.
in any contingency
1/ˈɪn ˈɛni kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi/
fixed phrase
formal
in whatever situation happens
Used to say that something is true or should happen in whatever future situation may come.
Exemplos
- The agreement should protect both parties in any contingency.
- In any contingency, communication with staff must remain clear and regular.
- The system is designed to remain secure in any contingency.
on a contingency basis
1/ˈɔn ə kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi bˈeɪsɪs/
fixed phrase
formal
only paid if result achieved
Used to say that someone will be paid or something will happen only if a certain result is reached.
Exemplos
- The attorney agreed to represent her on a contingency basis.
- Consultants were hired on a contingency basis and will be paid only if costs go down.
- Many people prefer lawyers who work on a contingency basis for injury cases.
plan for every contingency
1/plˈæn fɚ ˈɛvɹi kəntˈɪnd͡ʒənsi/
fixed phrase
make plans for all possibilities
To make plans so you are ready for any possible future event or problem.
Exemplos
- We can’t plan for every contingency, but we must try to plan for the most likely ones.
- Before the space mission, engineers tried to plan for every contingency.
- The manager expects us to plan for every contingency before we sign the contract.