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

"It has been a solid start, rather than like the last time we went up, under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020, and it was a goal bonanza at both ends pretty much every game," he added.

From BBC

One extremist leader in the Israeli cabinet predicted a real estate bonanza.

From BBC

Space X and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin have built large test facilities in Brownsville and Van Horn, Texas, bringing a blue-collar bonanza to traditionally poor regions.

From Los Angeles Times

He said that a Diwali gift in the form of a "massive tax bonanza" was on its way for the common man and the millions of small businesses that power Asia's third largest economy.

From BBC

The resulting profit bonanza for U.S. military contractors is notable.

From Salon

Related Words

• cash cow 
• treasure trove