Subject to contingency, being informal (4)
I believe the answer is:
iffy
'subject' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for iffy that I've seen before include "Dubious (colloq.)" , "Doubtful, not definite" , "Questionable - uncertain" , "Dodgy" , "Unsure" .)