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Contingency vs Uncertainty - What's the difference?

contingency | uncertainty |

In uncountable terms the difference between contingency and uncertainty

is that contingency is the quality of being contingent, of happening by chance; unpredictability while uncertainty is doubt; the condition of being uncertain or without conviction.

In countable terms the difference between contingency and uncertainty

is that contingency is 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 while uncertainty is something uncertain or ambiguous.

contingency

English

(wikipedia contingency)

Noun

  • (uncountable) The quality of being contingent, of happening by chance; unpredictability.
  • (countable) A possibility; something which may or may not happen. A chance occurrence, especially in finance, unexpected expenses.
  • (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.
  • (logic, countable) A statement which is neither a tautology nor a contradiction.

    • Synonyms

    * (quality of happening by chance) possibility * See also

    Antonyms

    * (quality of happening by chance) inevitability, impossibility

    Coordinate terms

    * (statement which is neither a tautology nor a contradiction) contradiction, tautology

    Derived terms

    * contingency plan

    uncertainty

    English

    Noun

  • (uncountable) Doubt; the condition of being uncertain or without conviction.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=“Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty , then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity.}}
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=April 9, author=Mandeep Sanghera, work=BBC Sport
    • , title= Tottenham 1-2 Norwich , passage=After spending so much of the season looking upwards, the swashbuckling style and swagger of early season Spurs was replaced by uncertainty and frustration against a Norwich side who had the quality and verve to take advantage}}
  • (countable) Something uncertain or ambiguous.
  • (uncountable, mathematics) A parameter that measures the dispersion of a range of measured values.

    • Antonyms

    * certainty

    External links

    * (wikipedia "uncertainty")