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

Pay down high-interest debts The first thing to do with any extra money is to pay off high-interest debts, like credit card bills, which can quickly gobble up any windfall. —Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025

But what seems like a windfall quickly spirals into a chain of betrayal, junkyard standoffs and escalating violence. —Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025

The last one standing is rewarded with a financial windfall and the granting of a single wish, any wish. —Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025

The plan dangles a financial windfall and expanded control of the company to Musk, already the world’s richest person, after his 2018 package valued in excess of $50 billion was struck down by a Delaware court. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 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