windfall

noun

wind·​fall ˈwin(d)-ˌfȯl How to pronounce windfall (audio)
1
: something (such as a tree or fruit) blown down by the wind
2
: an unexpected, unearned, or sudden gain or advantage

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Winning the World Series again would be a remarkable achievement, since no team has defended its crown since the Yankees won their third straight in 2001, and would also mean a financial windfall for the team and its players. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025 In 2021, the federal government passed a COVID-19 stimulus package and gave a windfall of money to North Carolina, and then the state budgeted about $50 million of that to go toward renovating the state’s three speedways: Charlotte, North Wilkesboro and Rockingham. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2025 The funding was part of a windfall of more than $190 billion that the U.S. Department of Education distributed to schools at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Hurubie Meko, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 For the bottom half of families, savings from the president's tax cuts would amount to less than $1 per day, while the richest 0.1 percent would enjoy windfalls of $314,266 per year. Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for windfall

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of windfall was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Windfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/windfall. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

windfall

noun
wind·​fall -ˌfȯl How to pronounce windfall (audio)
1
: something (as a tree or fruit) blown down by the wind
2
: an unexpected gift, gain, or help

More from Merriam-Webster on windfall

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