contingency fee

noun

: a fee for services (as of a lawyer) paid upon successful completion of the services and usually calculated as a percentage of the gain realized for the client

called also contingent fee

Examples of contingency fee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Personal injury firms throughout the country charge a standard contingency fee of 33.3% of settlement, and 40-44% of any amount collected after a suit is filed. —

Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 12 June 2024 Hypothesizing a 40% contingency fee giving $44,000 to Stanley, Herdecker said $66,000 of Client 1’s money should’ve been in the account as of June 1. —

David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 May 2024 Using the same contingency fee calculation, Herdecker theorized that $28,000 was Stanley’s and $44,000 was Client 2’s. —

David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 May 2024 The rise of contingency fee cases kicked off a new wave of lobbying across the nation. —

Shalina Chatlani, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for contingency fee

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of contingency fee was in 1905

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Contingency fee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contingency%20fee. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

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