bonanza

[buh-nan-zuh, boh-]

noun

1. a rich mass of ore, as found in mining.

2. a source of great and sudden wealth or luck; a spectacular windfall.

   The play proved to be a bonanza for its lucky backers.

bonanza

/ bəˈnænzə /

noun

1. a source, usually sudden and unexpected, of luck or wealth

2. a mine or vein rich in ore

Word History and Origins

Origin of bonanza¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1835–45; from Spanish: “calm sea, prosperity, abundance of minerals,” nasalized variant of Medieval Latin bonacia, alteration (with influence from Latin bonus “good,” possibly to avoid confusion with malus “bad”) of Latin malacia “calm sea,” from Greek malakía “softness” ( malak(ós) “soft” + -ia -ia )

Word History and Origins

Origin of bonanza¹

C19: from Spanish, literally: calm sea, hence, good luck, from Medieval Latin bonacia , from Latin bonus good + malacia dead calm, from Greek malakia softness

Example Sentences

The most frequent analogy analysts draw with the current bonanza in all things AI-related is the dot-com boom and bust of the late 1990s, early 2000s.

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Big Tech’s existential battle for AI dominance is shaping up to be an unprecedented bonanza for alternative assets.

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Returning some or all of that money — depending on what the Supreme Court decides — might well be a mess, as well as a bonanza for lawyers.

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Still, companies are largely rewarded for their connection to the AI bonanza.

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The location is near a bonanza of sports enterprises that have sprung up in recent years, including a Topgolf entertainment complex and the training facility and headquarters of the Los Angeles Chargers football team.

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Related Words

• cash cow 
• treasure trove