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
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
If the group doesn't get a windfall of a half-million dollars soon, SOUL will close its doors at the end of next month.
—
Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
Someone scored the windfall on a $1,000,000 a Year for Life Spectacular scratch-off game sold at a TravelCenters of America in Vero Beach, the Florida Lottery said Feb. 6.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
Though some of this year’s free agents might sign multiyear deals this offseason, considering the economic windfall expected to hit the league next winter, many top free agents are expected to sign one-year deals and re-enter the market next season when salaries likely increase.
—Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 31 Jan. 2025
That windfall may have been worth as much as $40 billion, leading some commentators to liken it to the mass sell-off of former Soviet state assets following the collapse of the USSR that created a class of instant billionaires.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for windfall 
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Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
Someone scored the windfall on a $1,000,000 a Year for Life Spectacular scratch-off game sold at a TravelCenters of America in Vero Beach, the Florida Lottery said Feb. 6.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
Though some of this year’s free agents might sign multiyear deals this offseason, considering the economic windfall expected to hit the league next winter, many top free agents are expected to sign one-year deals and re-enter the market next season when salaries likely increase.
—Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 31 Jan. 2025
That windfall may have been worth as much as $40 billion, leading some commentators to liken it to the mass sell-off of former Soviet state assets following the collapse of the USSR that created a class of instant billionaires.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for windfall
Dictionary Entries Near windfall
Cite this Entry
“Windfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/windfall. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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