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windfall

windfall

35 5.1
A large amount of money that you get unexpectedly
  • noun
  • /ˈwɪndfɔl/
translation icon : ganancia inesperada
  • After receiving an unexpected bonus at work, she considered it a windfall that would help pay off her debts.
  • windfall profits
  • oil windfalls
  • windfall tax

So I had a small windfall twice that I spent.

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Examples

  • Every time Leathers thought of his windfall, he felt a surge of well-being.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Such systems minimize opportunities for corruption and misappropriation, since windfall revenue stays out of the hands of public officials.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Guns and oil offered an economic windfall to the Middle East after World War II.

    Academic text (1994)
  • When effective administration of this money is achieved, the public can benefit from this windfall of revenue.

    Academic text (2004)
  • This will be a financial windfall for the Trump campaign and arguably for America.

  • With your new windfall, you guys could expand and franchise.

  • As the baby boomers enter retirement, there will be a windfall for universities.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Right now, it's a mere $300-billion windfall.

  • First, petroleum windfalls have effectively severed the connection between taxation and program spending.

    Academic text (2017)
  • With that windfall, you'll be able to buy plenty of harvesters, robots, and won't have to do this difficult work by hand.

Synonyms

jackpot
vswindfall
90 3.7

A large amount of money you win in a game like the lottery

is broader used for any unexpected gain not only prize winnings
good fortune
vswindfall
66 2.5

A lucky event or success that happens by chance

is narrower pointing to a specific unexpected gain or monetary amount
fluke
vswindfall
32 5.1

An unexpected good event that happens by chance

is used for actual gains or benefits rather than mere accidental events
godsend
vswindfall
28 4.9

Something very helpful that you did not expect when you needed it

is about an unexpected gain itself rather than arriving at a particularly helpful time
bonanza
vswindfall
25 7.1

A time that brings a large unexpected amount of money or success

is smaller in scale and can mean any sudden gain or advantage
gravy
vswindfall
  • Informal
18 7.3

An unexpected extra benefit or profit

is a general unexpected gain rather than an additional bonus to earnings
lucky break
vswindfall
  • Informal
13 3.2

A sudden chance that helps you succeed

often refers to the resulting gain or advantage rather than the chance itself
stroke of luck
vswindfall
8 3.2

A sudden lucky event that brings good results

focuses on the actual gain or benefit rather than just the lucky occurrence
windfall profit
vswindfall
5 5.0

A large unexpected gain of money from an event you cannot control

is broader covering gains and advantages not only monetary profit
manna from heaven
vswindfall
  • Informal
2 7.5

A sudden helpful gift when you need it most

is more general and not necessarily tied to miraculous or critical timing
gift from above
vswindfall
  • Informal
1 4.2

An unexpected good thing that feels like it comes from above

is neutral about origin and focuses on the gain or advantage itself
bunce
vswindfall
  • Archaic
9.9

A sudden unexpected gain of money from luck

is broader covering gains and advantages not only monetary profit
happy chance
vswindfall
3.9

A lucky unexpected event that brings something good

refers more to the benefit or advantage gained rather than the accident itself

Antonyms

439 1.4

The event when you stop having someone or something important

75 3.7

A bad event that causes trouble

Compounds

A large unexpected gain of money from an event you cannot control

How Valuable

fortune
453 2.8
jackpot
90 3.7
bonanza
25 7.1
windfall
35 5.1
bonus
310 2.2

Surface Forms

windfall singular
windfalls plural

Morphology

windfall = wind + fall (semi-transparent) = wind + fall

The metaphorical extension from a fruit that 'falls by wind' to an unexpected financial gain is a common figurative shift but not fully predictable for learners.

Etymology

Windfall comes from the simple picture of wind + fall, when fruit is blown from a tree by the wind and 'falls' to the ground as a free gift. So a sudden gain of money is called a windfall because it feels like something lucky that 'falls' into your hands.