Planning glossary
Contingency
A budget amount for defined project uncertainty, applied to a stated cost base rather than used to hide missing scope.
Example
A design contingency can remain separate from construction contingency and from material waste.
Related concepts
Allowance
A visible quantity or cost added for a named uncertainty, such as cutting loss or incomplete product selection.
Read definitionWaste factor
An explicit material-specific allowance for cuts, layout, breakage, and other named purchasing loss.
Read definitionBaseline
A dated reference condition used for comparison, not a promise that a specific project will match it.
Read definitionUse the term in context
Definition boundaryThis planning definition is not a substitute for the definition in an adopted code, standard, contract, manufacturer instruction, or professional document. Confirm the controlling meaning for the project.