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

Synonyms

• benefit
• blessing
• boon
• gift

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

That will produce a huge windfall in profits that will be plowed back to shareholders in the form of higher dividends and bigger buybacks. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 July 2025

Republicans are also vowing to go on the offensive, highlighting the tax cuts as a windfall for workers and the immigration crackdown as a boon for public safety. —Amie Parnes, The Hill, 8 July 2025

But for high-income earners or those experiencing sudden windfalls, like the sale of a business or stock options getting exercised, those basic strategies often don’t move the needle much. —Thomas H. Ruggie, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

This could mean a financial windfall, an intense emotional breakthrough or a shift in a close relationship. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for windfall

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids 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