Metafisiese kontingensie verwys na die idee dat iets bestaan of plaasvind, maar nie uit eie noodsaaklikheid nie. Die bestaan of waarheid van daardie ding is afhanklik van iets anders en dit kon anders gewees het. ‘n Kontingente entiteit soos ‘n boom of ‘n mens bestaan omdat sekere voorwaardes of oorsake vervul is (sade, water, ouers); as hierdie voorwaardes anders was, sou die boom of mens dalk nie bestaan het nie. In teenstelling hiermee word God in baie filosofiese tradisies as noodsaaklik beskou, omdat Sy bestaan nie afhanklik is van enige eksterne faktor nie en nie anders kan wees nie. Hierdie konsep word dikwels gebruik in besprekings oor die oorsprong van die heelal, vrye wil en die aard van bestaan.
Metaphysical contingency refers to the idea that something exists or occurs, but not out of its own necessity. The existence or truth of that thing depends on something else and could have been otherwise. A contingent entity such as a tree or a person exists because certain conditions or causes have been fulfilled (seeds, water, parents); if these conditions had been different, the tree or person might not have existed. In contrast, God is regarded in many philosophical traditions as necessary, because His existence does not depend on any external factor and cannot be otherwise. This concept is frequently used in discussions about the origin of the universe, free will, and the nature of existence.