contingency

contingent +‎ -cy (16th century).

• IPA^(key): /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/

contingency (countable and uncountable, plural contingencies)

1. (uncountable) The quality of being contingent, of happening by chance; unpredictability. [1560s]
2. (countable) A possibility; something which may or may not happen. A chance occurrence, especially in finance, unexpected expenses. [1610s]
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 he or she does not fulfill the contract according to the specification.
4. (logic, countable) A statement which is neither a tautology nor a contradiction.

• (quality of happening by chance): possibility
• See also Thesaurus:option

• (quality of happening by chance): inevitability, impossibility

• (statement which is neither a tautology nor a contradiction): contradiction, tautology

• contingency plan