windfall

American  

[wind-fawl] / ˈwɪndˌfɔl /

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 British  

/ 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 Cultural  

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of windfall

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

Explanation

Lucky you! You just won the lottery and your windfall will make life very comfortable for you and your family. A windfall is a crazy bit of unexpected good fortune. First used in the 15th century, the word windfall originally referred to fruit that the wind blew from the trees. Like a prize was there for whomever found it — no need for the ladder and effort of picking it from the tall trees. The word eventually came to mean any unexpected and easily-gained good fortune, typically one involving money, such as the windfall profit from a lucky stock purchase.

Example Sentences

Yet state lawmakers continue to propose and pass reforms at the behest of hospitals to protect this unintended windfall.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom released his revised budget proposal, which uses a tax windfall to help wipe out California’s deficit over the next two fiscal years.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom released his revised budget proposal, which uses a tax windfall to help wipe out California’s deficit over the next two fiscal years.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Do they mostly see it as a chance to make a windfall, or are they unsettled because of the volatility in the market and the fact that their end customers are suffering?

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Palsson and Bobby might see some money, it was suggested, if the film made a profit, although it was highly unlikely for a documentary to realize even a slight windfall.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• bonanza
• bonus