contango
Americannoun
noun
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(formerly, on the London Stock Exchange) postponement of payment for and delivery of stock from one account day to the next
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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.
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“The curve structure also strengthened, with the front end returning to backwardation after recently flipping into contango amid the ramp-up of Persian Gulf supply.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
“Physical crude markets also weakened, with the Dubai and Murban forward curves shifting into contango for the first time since the war began, signaling easing concerns over immediate supply shortages,” analysts at MUFG.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 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
Typically, owing to storage and financing costs, silver prices are in contango where spot prices are the lower of the two.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2025
For the accommodation a certain charge, which is called "contango," is made, the amount varying with the value of money and the quality of the stock.
From Everybody's Guide to Money Matters: with a description of the various investments chiefly dealt in on the stock exchange, and the mode of dealing therein by Cotton, William
Basking in the smiles of his Dolly, he gradually forgot stocks, shares, backwardations, and contangoes.
From Fifty-Two Stories For Girls by Miles, Alfred H. (Alfred Henry)
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
Let's go and chatter to Bob about contangos.
From First Plays by Milne, A. A. (Alan Alexander)
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.
