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.
While the post-pandemic run-up in prices has created a windfall on paper, unlocking that wealth is harder than ever. Ilona Limonta-Volkova, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Opioid settlements with companies like Purdue Pharma, Walmart, and Johnson & Johnson have led to headline-grabbing multibillion-dollar payouts, but most of the windfall is flowing to state and local governments, not directly to victims of the crisis. Henry Larweh, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025 Eli Lilly has benefitted from the windfall from tirzepatide – the active ingredient in its weight loss injection Zepbound and diabetes shot Mounjaro – which targets GLP-1 but also activates another gut hormone called GIP. Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2025 The series takes place during the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen, which promises a financial windfall. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Mar. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Windfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/windfall. Accessed 15 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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