contributory

UK: /kənˈtrɪbjʊtəri/ US: (kən trib′yə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē)

Inflections of 'contributory' (n): npl: contributories

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•trib•u•to•ry  (kən trib′yə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj., n., pl. -ries. 
adj. 

1. pertaining to or of the nature of contribution;
   contributing.
2. furnishing something toward a result:
   a contributory factor.
3. Business of, pertaining to, or constituting an insurance or pension plan the premiums of which are paid partly by an employer and partly by employees.
4. Business subject to contribution or levy.

n. 

5. a person or thing that contributes.

• Medieval Latin contribūtōrius. See contribute, -tory¹
• late Middle English contributorie 1375–1425

Synonyms

• 2. accessory, ancillary.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

contributory / kənˈtrɪbjʊtərɪ -trɪ/ adjective

1. (often followed by to) sharing in or being partly responsible (for the cause of something): a contributory factor
2. giving or donating to a common purpose or fund
3. of, relating to, or designating an insurance or pension scheme in which the premiums are paid partly by the employer and partly by the employees who benefit from it
4. liable or subject to a tax or levy

noun ( -ries)

1. a person or thing that contributes
2. a member or former member of a company liable to contribute to the assets on the winding-up of the company