autocall
|au-to-call|
🇺🇸
/ˈɔːtoʊkɔːl/
🇬🇧
/ˈɔːtəʊkɔːl/
self + call = automatically called
Etymology
'autocall' originates from a combination of the Greek prefix 'auto-' and the English verb 'call'; 'auto-' comes from Greek 'autos' where 'autos' meant 'self', and 'call' traces to Old Norse 'kalla' meaning 'to call'.
'auto-' entered English usage via Latin/French borrowings of Greek elements in the 18th–19th centuries, while 'call' evolved from Old Norse 'kalla' through Old English/Middle English ('callen') to modern English 'call'. The compound 'autocall' emerged in 20th-century financial jargon to describe automatic early redemption features.
Initially a literal composition meaning 'self-call' or 'call by itself' (i.e., to call automatically), the term has become specialized in modern usage to denote an automatic early‑redemption feature or product in structured finance.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a structured financial product feature (or a product) that is automatically redeemed (called) early if specified conditions are met on observation dates; often used as short for 'autocallable note' or 'autocallable feature'.
The autocall triggered after the index closed above the barrier on the observation date, and investors received early redemption.
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Verb 1
to call (redeem) something automatically according to preset conditions; to be automatically redeemed or to cause automatic redemption.
If the underlying asset meets the barrier level, the issuer will autocall the structured note.
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Last updated: 2025/11/24 00:58