different between backup vs contingency

English

Alternative forms

• back-up

Etymology

back +? up

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?bæk??p/

Noun

backup (plural backups)

1. A reserve or substitute.

   If the goalkeeper is injured, we have a backup.

2. (computing) A copy of a file or record, stored separately from the original, that can be used to recover the original if it is destroyed or damaged.

   After the power failure, we had to restore the database from backup.

3. An accumulation of material caused by a (partial) obstruction or (complete) blockage of the flow or movement of the material, or an accumulation of material that causes an overflow due to the flow being greater than the maximum possible flow.

   The accident caused a mile-long backup on the highway.

   The blockage caused a backup in the plumbing.

4. (law enforcement) reinforcements

   He's got a gun! You'd better send for backup.

Synonyms

• (reserve): reserve, stand-in, spare, substitute
• (computing: copy of a file or record):
• (accumulation of material caused by an obstruction of flow): tailback, line (of cars)

Descendants

Translations

Adjective

backup (not comparable)

1. Standby, reserve or extra.

   I am only a backup player.

2. (computing) That is intended as a backup.

   Make a backup copy of that file.

3. Supporting, reinforcing; (music) of or related to accompaniment

Usage notes

Back-up is an alternative spelling of backup. Both spellings are used as either a noun or an adjective. The verb back up is always spelled as two words and never with a hyphen.

Synonyms

• (reserve): extra, reserve, spare, standby
• (supporting): backing

Translations

Verb

backup (third-person singular simple present backups, present participle backupping, simple past and past participle backupped)

1. Misspelling of back up.

Anagrams

• upback

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English backup.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /be?kap/, /?b?.kap/

Noun

backup m (invariable)

1. (computing) backup

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• becape

Etymology

Borrowed from English backup.

Noun

backup m (plural backups)

1. (computing) backup (copy of file or record)

English

Etymology

contingent +? -cy (16th century).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?t?nd??nsi/

Noun

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. (finance, 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.

Synonyms

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

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

Translations