contingent

What does “contingent” mean?

adjective.subject to chance; occurring or existing only if certain other circumstances are the case.

SAT Usage

The term appears in passages discussing conditional scenarios, decision-making, or philosophical arguments about fate and uncertainty. It emphasizes the dependency of outcomes on specific conditions, distinguishing it from similar words like "conditional," which may not convey the inherent unpredictability implied by contingent circumstances.

Common Confusions

Contingent implies a reliance on uncertain conditions for its occurrence, while conditional usually suggests a specific requirement that must be met without the same level of unpredictability.

Example Sentences

• The pay raise was contingent on reaching the annual sales target.

Word Parts: How to Remember “contingent”

Break “contingent” into its parts: co- (together, with). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: co- together, with (Latin)