a gathering of persons representative of some larger group; each nation sent a contingent of athletes to the Olympics'

a temporary military unit; the peacekeeping force includes one British contingent

[ Syn: detail ]

possible but not certain to occur; they had to plan for contingent expenses'

determined by conditions or circumstances that follow; arms sales contingent on the approval of congress

[ Syn: contingent on , contingent upon , dependent on , dependant on , dependent upon , dependant upon , depending on ]

uncertain because of uncontrollable circumstances; the results of confession were not contingent, they were certain- George Eliot