windfall

noun wind·fall \ ˈwin(d)-ˌfȯl \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Examples: windfall in a Sentence

Definition of windfall

1 : something (such as a tree or fruit) blown down by the wind

2 : an unexpected, unearned, or sudden gain or advantage

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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 of windfall from the Web

But future windfalls could be erased if voters in November approve Amendment One, a constitutional amendment to add another $25,000 homestead exemption for homes valued at more than $100,000.

— jerry fallstrom, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Lake says not enough money to fund sheriff's $9.8 million budget increase request," 13 July 2018
State coffers in Massachusetts and beyond are enjoying an unexpected windfall in revenue that experts attribute in part to the federal tax overhaul President Trump signed into law in December.

— joshua miller and matt stout, BostonGlobe.com, "Mass. Legislature could strengthen Charlie Baker’s hand with budget delay," 12 July 2018
The House is touting passage of dozens of bills that could help combat the national opioid crisis, but a small handful of companies that have spent millions lobbying Congress could reap a windfall if any of the bills become law, Politico informs us.

— ed silverman, STAT, "Pharmalittle: FDA OKs first medicine derived from marijuana; drug makers benefit from opioid bills," 26 June 2018
Residents of gentrifying neighbourhoods who own their homes have reaped considerable windfalls.

— The Economist, "In praise of gentrification," 21 June 2018
Lazenby traced Blaine’s revenue windfall to a sales tax agreement that was put in place in the mid-2000s which allowed states to levy sales taxes based on where a package was delivered, rather than where it was sold.

— alexandra samuel, The Verge, "Welcome to Blaine, the town Amazon Prime built," 20 June 2018
Future owner Stockdale Capital Partners is now laying the groundwork to transform the 900,000-square-foot shopping center into San Diego’s next big economic windfall: a modern office campus.

— jennifer van grove, sandiegouniontribune.com, "What's happening with Horton Plaza? Now we know," 14 June 2018
Under the law, if the state receives a windfall in tax revenue from capital gains or bonuses on Wall Street above $3.15 billion annually, the additional money must be placed into the rainy day fund and cannot be spent that year.

— christopher keating, courant.com, "Connecticut Bond Sale Goes Better Than Expected," 8 June 2018
But smaller corporations aren’t guaranteed a windfall.

— joyce m. rosenberg, Houston Chronicle, "Lingering limbo: Businesses uncertain about tax law impact," 27 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'windfall.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.