triple witching

noun

Simultaneous expiry on US markets of stock index futures, stock index options, and stock options, which took place on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December. (With the introduction of single stock futures those days are now quadruple witching.)

Meanings

nountriple witching (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebusinessSimultaneous expiry on US markets of stock index futures, stock index options, and stock options, which took place on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December. (With the introduction of single stock futures those days are now quadruple witching.)

Origin

The idea of witching for these days is from the unusual patterns of trading that can occur ahead of the contract expiries.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

triple witching. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/triple%20witching

MLA

“triple witching.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/triple%20witching. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “triple witching,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/triple%20witching.

Source: triple witching on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.