contango
Americannoun
-
contangos,
plural
-
contangoes
plural
noun
-
(formerly, on the London Stock Exchange) postponement of payment for and delivery of stock from one account day to the next
-
Also called: carry-over. continuation. the fee paid for such a postponement Compare backwardation
verb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of contango
1850–55; said to be alteration of continue or contingent
Compare meaning
How does contango compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“Brent and Dubai crude time spreads remained in contango, reflecting ample near-term supply, and Gulf producers are expected to lower official selling prices further to maintain competitiveness,” said Soojin Kim from MUFG.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Back in 2020, when the market’s sharp contango quickly corrected itself, it seemed like investors rightly concluded that the pandemic’s effects would ease within months.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 10, 2026
Usually, VIX futures are higher than the VIX to reflect the extra risk of holding a longer-duration contract, a condition known as contango.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 22, 2026
In a contango market, traders have an incentive to buy oil and store it instead of selling it for refining or other economically productive uses.
From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2025
If he chose, he could explain to you the meaning of contango, and even of that mysterious term to the uninitiated, 'backwardation.'
From Hodge and His Masters by Richard Jefferies
Continuā′tion, constant succession: extension; Continuā′tion-day, the same as Contango-day, that on which contangoes are fixed.—adj.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Basking in the smiles of his Dolly, he gradually forgot stocks, shares, backwardations, and contangoes.
From Fifty-Two Stories For Girls by Alfred H. (Alfred Henry) Miles
Let's go and chatter to Bob about contangos.
From First Plays by A. A. (Alan Alexander) Milne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
