small fortune

noun

: a surprisingly or unexpectedly large amount of money
They spent a small fortune on redecorating their house.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Five extra days in a destination like Mexico or Hawaii can cost a small fortune, not to mention difficult to find a room at the height of spring break or summer travel. Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 27 Feb. 2023 Then came a small fortune from the federal government: $24 million in COVID-19 relief funds for the district of nearly 3,800 students. Detroit Free Press, 27 Mar. 2023 Nobody wants to live in a draughty, cold home that costs a small fortune to heat, but the sad reality is millions of people wake up every day in such a property. Jamie Hailstone, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023 Rather than treating that theory seriously, however, progressive media figures slandered the theory’s proponents, with support from researchers who stood to lose out on a small fortune in grants for coronavirus research in China if such funding was cut off in a backlash. The Editors, National Review, 27 Feb. 2023

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

Dictionary Entries Near small fortune

Cite this Entry

“Small fortune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small%20fortune. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

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