bonanza

noun

bo·​nan·​za bə-ˈnan-zə How to pronounce bonanza (audio)
1
mining : an exceptionally large and rich mineral deposit (as of an ore, precious metal, or petroleum)
2
a
: something that is very valuable, profitable, or rewarding
a box-office bonanza
b
: a very large amount
a bonanza of sympathy
c
: extravaganza
channels planning all-day viewing bonanzasWilliam Borders

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Great white sharks scavenging on the bonanza of a whale carcass select blubber-rich spots first and sometimes even spit up fleshy chunks in favor of going back for fattier bites, according to a 2013 study in the journal PLOS ONE. Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 11 Apr. 2023 Now the building is stuffed with Ghibliana: a dense bonanza of references and tableaus and scale-model buildings. Sam Anderson, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2023 For Trousdale and even Menken, who’d come out of Broadway as well, Benson didn’t necessarily seem part of the East Coast casting bonanza. Jeff Bond, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Dec. 2022 Officially called the Prime Early Access Sale, the two-day shopping bonanza is coming just in time for gift-giving season. Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2022 Think of it as a marketing bonanza, but from an unparalleled entertainment conglomerate that has influenced generations, defined American culture and honored its own traditions while changing with the times. Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2022 Successful movie script writers could expect bonanza paydays in an era in which studios released major competing films every weekend. Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 May 2023 The guest list remains in flux, but that isn’t stopping Chinese companies from trying to snag a share of the bonanza. Mary Hui, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2023 The Bulldogs’ bonanza in Kirby Smart’s sixth draft class raised the Georgia coach’s average number of draft picks per year to 7.5. Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 14 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bonanza.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, literally, calm sea, from Medieval Latin bonacia, alteration of Latin malacia, from Greek malakia, literally, softness, from malakos soft

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bonanza was in 1825

Dictionary Entries Near bonanza

Cite this Entry

“Bonanza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bonanza. Accessed 28 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

bonanza

noun
bo·​nan·​za bə-ˈnan-zə How to pronounce bonanza (audio)
1
: a large and rich mineral deposit
2
: something that brings a rich return

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