The difference between Certain and Contingent
When used as nouns, certain means something certain, whereas contingent means an event which may or may not happen.
When used as adjectives, certain means sure, positive, not doubting, whereas contingent means possible or liable, but not certain to occur.
Certain is also determiner with the meaning: having been determined but not specified.
Certain is also pronoun with the meaning: unnamed or undescribed members (of).
check bellow for the other definitions of Certain and Contingent
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Certain as an adjective:
Sure, positive, not doubting.
Examples:
"I was certain of my decision."
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Certain as an adjective (obsolete):
Determined; resolved.
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Certain as an adjective:
Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact.
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Certain as an adjective:
Actually existing; sure to happen; inevitable.
Examples:
"Bankruptcy is the certain outcome of your constant gambling and lending."
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Certain as an adjective:
Unfailing; infallible.
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Certain as an adjective:
Fixed or stated; regular; determinate.
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Certain as an adjective:
Not specifically named; indeterminate; indefinite; one or some; sometimes used independently as a noun, and meaning certain persons; see also "one".
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Certain as a pronoun (with ''of''):
Unnamed or undescribed members (of).
Examples:
"There where serious objections to certain of the proposals."
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Certain as a noun (with "the"):
Something certain.
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Contingent as a noun:
An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something future; a contingency.
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Contingent as a noun:
That which falls to one in a division or apportionment among a number; a suitable share; proportion.
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Contingent as a noun (military):
A quota of troops.
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Contingent as an adjective:
Possible or liable, but not certain to occur; incidental; casual.
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Contingent as an adjective:
(with upon or on) Dependent on something that is undetermined or unknown.
Examples:
"The success of his undertaking is contingent upon events which he cannot control."
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Contingent as an adjective:
Dependent on something that may or may not occur.
Examples:
"a contingent estate"
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Contingent as an adjective:
Not logically necessarily true or false.
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Contingent as an adjective:
Temporary
Examples:
"contingent labor, contingent worker"