windfall
noun
wind·fall
ˈwin(d)-ˌfȯl 
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
Dealing Alcantara, in theory, could bring a similar windfall.
—
Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
But as the crew—three Americans, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—heads back to Earth, there’s no financial windfall waiting for them.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
Yet this is counterbalanced by the $60 billion windfall that American oil producers could earn if prices remain high.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2026
The finance ministers of Spain and four other European countries are urging the European Union to impose a bloc-wide windfall tax on energy companies, concerned that surging oil and gas prices driven by the war in Iran will fuel inflation and strain households.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for windfall
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Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
But as the crew—three Americans, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—heads back to Earth, there’s no financial windfall waiting for them.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
Yet this is counterbalanced by the $60 billion windfall that American oil producers could earn if prices remain high.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2026
The finance ministers of Spain and four other European countries are urging the European Union to impose a bloc-wide windfall tax on energy companies, concerned that surging oil and gas prices driven by the war in Iran will fuel inflation and strain households.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for windfall
Cite this Entry
“Windfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/windfall. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
windfall
noun
wind·fall
-ˌfȯl
1
: something (as a tree or fruit) blown down by the wind
2
: an unexpected gift, gain, or help
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