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Glite Dictionary
windfall profit

windfall profit

5 5.0
A large unexpected gain of money from an event you cannot control
  • noun
  • /ˈwɪndfɔl ˈprɒfɪt/
translation icon : ganancia inesperada
  • Government must announce an enhanced windfall profits tax, making sure that those oil and gas producers pay their fair share from excess profits.
  • a windfall profit tax
  • windfall profit taxes

Examples

  • Judge Newman emphasized that the overcharges were not disputed and the federal power producers made windfall profits as a result of the error.

    Academic text (2017)

  • Also, let's have some windfall profits taxes on the energy companies.

    Blog text (14)

  • A special windfall profits tax on oil companies to subsidize renewable energy projects.

    Blog text (17)

  • In 1978, the United States opted to gradually deregulate oil prices and imposed a new tax on windfall profits from oil.

    Academic text (1999)

  • With its vast supplies of oil and natural gas, Moscow might reap windfall profits, but there is no guarantee of where the chain reaction of a Middle East war might stop.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Various proposals have been placed on the table to transfer resources from NAFTA winners to NAFTA losers: border transaction taxes, a windfall profit tax, a North American development bank, a European-style regional fund scheme, and a deeper reduction in Mexico's debt, among others.

    Academic text (1993)

  • The lottery winner received a substantial windfall profit that changed his life overnight.

  • After the unexpected increase in oil prices, many companies reported significant windfall profits.

  • The sudden demand for the rare collectible led to a windfall profit for the seller at the auction.

Synonyms

windfall
vswindfall profit
35 5.1

A large amount of money that you get unexpectedly

is a financial benefit that arrives unexpectedly from events outside recipients' control
bonanza
vswindfall profit
25 7.1

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

is the unexpected financial benefit itself rather than the causing event or place
gravy
vswindfall profit
  • Informal
18 7.3

An unexpected extra benefit or profit

is an unexpected financial gain not just an added bonus
bunce
vswindfall profit
  • Archaic
9.9

A sudden unexpected gain of money from luck

is linked to gains caused by events beyond recipients' control

Antonyms

loss
695 2.1

Money lost by a business or person

deficit
674 4.3

An amount by which money or resources are less than needed

How Profitable

jackpot
90 3.7
bonanza
25 7.1
windfall profit
5 5.0
profit
  • Specialized
∞ 2.0
loss
695 2.1

Surface Forms

windfall profit singular
windfall profits plural

Morphology

windfall + profit

The noun 'windfall' denotes an unforeseen monetary gain and 'profit' denotes monetary gain, so 'windfall profit' straightforwardly means an unexpected profit. This meaning is directly compositional and follows ordinary noun–noun compounding, making it immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

The noun windfall profit comes from a simple image: a windfall was fruit blown down from a tree by the wind that people could pick up for free. That's why a windfall profit means 'an unexpected profit', money you did not expect to get.