contingency

/kənˈtɪndʒənsi/

/kənˈtɪndʒɪnsi/

Other forms: contingencies

If you plan to walk home if the weather is nice, but bring subway fare just in case, then taking the subway is your contingency plan. A contingency is an event you can't be sure will happen or not.

The noun contingency describes something that might or might not happen. We use it to describe an event or situation that is a possible outcome but one that's impossible to predict with certainty. A company might have a contingency plan for what to do if something goes wrong with their primary strategy, also known as "plan B." They might even have plans C, D, and E, to prepare for multiple contingencies.

Definitions of contingency

1. noun

   the state of being contingent on something
   type of:

   dependance, dependence, dependency

   the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else
2. noun

   a possible event or occurrence or result
   synonyms: contingence, eventuality

   type of:

   happening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent

   an event that happens