windfall

[wind-fawl]

noun

1. an unexpected gain, piece of good fortune, or the like.

   I've recently come into a windfall and am considering early retirement.

2. an unexpected positive result or by-product.

   The industry’s profits are a windfall of war.

3. something blown down by the wind, such as fruit or a tree.

   We'll have plenty of firewood for winter, as there are a lot of pine windfalls around.

   She has a dozen apple trees, and every day she picks up the windfalls for eating and baking.

4. the fall of something blown down by the wind.

   The orchard must be sheltered from prevailing winds, as a windfall of peaches too early in the season can be disastrous.

5. a quantity or mass of trees blown down by the wind, or an area containing many such trees.

   The road was covered by extensive windfall which had to be cut and removed.

adjective

1. (of profit or other gain) coming unexpectedly and in a large amount.

   One new business relationship can produce tens of thousands of dollars in windfall profits.

2. blown down by the wind.

   In addition to grain, his free-range chickens eat bugs and windfall fruit.

windfall

/ ˈwɪndˌfɔːl /

noun

1. a piece of unexpected good fortune, esp financial gain

2. something blown down by the wind, esp a piece of fruit

3. a plot of land covered with trees blown down by the wind

windfall

1. An unexpected profit from a business or other source. The term connotes gaining huge profits without working for them — for example, when oil companies profit from a temporary scarcity of oil.

Word History and Origins

Origin of windfall¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; wind ¹ + fall

Example Sentences

A windfall of job opportunities for Guy coincides with Rosemary’s pregnancy.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The discovery means a substantial windfall to the ruling Labour Party government, which is heading toward a difficult budget unveiling at the end of November.

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Bailout money is likely to be invested in “market-moving purchases that push up the value of assets and local currency,” and hedge funds and vulture capitalists “will see a windfall.”

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Mark Robinson, who joked to activists he was the "most left-wing man in commercial real estate", welcomed the party's call this week for a windfall tax on big banks.

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Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper has called for a windfall tax on big banks to fund home loans to install renewable energy systems.

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Related Words

• bonanza 
• bonus