windfall

noun

wind·​fall ˈwin(d)-ˌfȯl 

1

: something (such as a tree or fruit) blown down by the wind

2

: an unexpected, unearned, or sudden gain or advantage

Synonyms

• benediction
• benefit
• blessing
• boon
• felicity
• godsend
• good
• manna

Examples of windfall in a Sentence

They received a windfall because of the tax cuts.

hitting the lottery jackpot was an incredible windfall for the recently laid-off worker

Recent Examples on the Web

Deposit these windfalls into a high-yield savings account, investment portfolio, or retirement fund to boost your long-term financial stability. —True Tamplin, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

The bill repeals two amendments to the Social Security Act that sought to prevent windfall benefits for government employees with pensions. —The Editors, National Review, 23 Dec. 2024

There’s the author trying to keep the peace between his new wife and his strict mother, the lesbians who can’t decide whether to have a baby, and a swarm of real estate developers looking for a windfall. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2024

Driving the news: Visit Seattle unveiled its latest economic impact report on Tuesday, projecting a significant windfall from the 2026 summer event. —Christine Clarridge, Axios, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

windfall

noun

wind·​fall -ˌfȯl 

1

: something (as a tree or fruit) blown down by the wind

2

: an unexpected gift, gain, or help