contingencies
What might happen
Contingencies are possible future events or circumstances that cannot be predicted with certainty.
Planning accounts for contingencies—things that might happen and would require a response: The budget includes a fund for contingencies.
In contracts and negotiations, a contingency is a condition that must be met before an agreement takes effect: The offer is subject to financing contingencies.
Alternative if primary fails
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
- alternativesOther available options
- scenariosImagined sequences of events
- preparednessState of being equipped
risk assessment · mitigation · safeguards · provisions · precautions · redundancy · Plan B · worst-case
State resisting forecasts
- variablesChangeable elements in equations
- unknownsUndetermined quantities
- possibilitiesThings that may occur
- chance eventsUnintended happenings, not designed
wildcards · imponderables · circumstances · fluctuations · volatility · instability · flux · happenstance
Additional troops sent in
- reservesResources held back
- supply linesRoutes for transporting provisions
- logisticsCoordination of complex activities
- strategic reservesAssets saved for emergencies
rapid response · evacuation routes · support units · mobilization
Money held for contingencies
- budget allocationPlanned distribution of funds
- cost overrunExpenses exceeding allocated funds
- rainy day fundMoney saved for emergencies
- escrowConditional third-party deposit
slush fund · appropriations · risk premium · hedge fund · liquid assets · variance · retainer
backup plan
Alternative if primary fails
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
- alternativesOther available options
- scenariosImagined sequences of events
preparedness · risk assessment · mitigation · safeguards · provisions · precautions · redundancy · Plan B · worst-case · what-ifs
unpredictability
State resisting forecasts
- variablesChangeable elements in equations
- unknownsUndetermined quantities
- possibilitiesThings that may occur
chance events · wildcards · imponderables · circumstances · fluctuations · volatility · instability · flux · happenstance · unforeseen
reinforcements
Additional troops sent in
- reservesResources held back
- supply linesRoutes for transporting provisions
- logisticsCoordination of complex activities
strategic reserves · rapid response · evacuation routes · support units · mobilization
reserve fund
Money held for contingencies
- budget allocationPlanned distribution of funds
- cost overrunExpenses exceeding allocated funds
- rainy day fundMoney saved for emergencies
escrow · slush fund · appropriations · risk premium · hedge fund · liquid assets · variance · retainer
- Home Buyingmortgage, downpayment, down payment, closing, closing costs
- fine printfine print, small print, disclaimer, disclaimers, terms
- What Could Happenoutcomes, scenarios, possibilities, probabilities, hypotheticals
- contractsbinding contracts, contract length, lease, clause, contract terms
- entertainment businessrecording contract, movie deal, book deal, development deal, talent deal
- property transfertransfer of ownership, title, property transfer, lease, conveyance
contingenciescertainties
Assured truths
guarantees · sure things · inevitabilities · foregone conclusions · givens
contingenciesnecessities
What you cannot lack
inevitabilities · certainties · imperatives · musts · absolutes