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Original · left

The future

The time that comes after the present; what is yet to happen.

First in use: ancient / pre-modern
Duplicate · right

Futures contract

A standardized contract to buy or sell an asset at a set price on a set future date, traded on exchanges.

First in use: the 1800s

Future / The future / Futures contract

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Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Traders sell the future, one contract at a time.

Which meaning of Future is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? The future came first (ancient / pre-modern). Futures contract arrived in the 1800s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

The futureFutures contract
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

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The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · ancient / pre-modern

The future

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Duplicate · the 1800s

Futures contract

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More duplicated terms

Money & fintech

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