bonanza

noun

bo·​nan·​za bə-ˈnan-zə 

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

… commercial channels planning all-day viewing bonanzas …

—William Borders

Examples of bonanza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But general manager Joe Hortiz likes doing that, and turned what would have been a quiet weekend — two selections on Day 3 — into a six-pick bonanza. —Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026

Yet the clothes-buying bonanza wasn’t equal across the board. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026

What followed was an upfront pitch smaller in scope than the big bonanzas that other companies will hold next month, but still familiar. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026

The world’s biggest energy traders are reaping a fresh profit bonanza as the war in Iran causes unprecedented disruption to oil markets. —Archie Hunter, Bloomberg, 21 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for bonanza

• extravaganza
• stanza

Kids Definition

bonanza

noun

bo·​nan·​za bə-ˈnan-zə 

1

: a large and rich mineral deposit

2

: something that brings a rich return