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

Trump, in return for their longstanding support, has not only pursued the kinds of policies that would reap windfall profits to private prisons, but also reversed an effort by former President Barack Obama to phase private prisons out of the process.

From Salon

A US oil firm has said it will end all its operations in the North Sea by the end of 2029, blaming the impact of the windfall tax.

From BBC

Apache said recent confirmation in the Budget that the windfall tax on oil and gas firm profits would rise and be extended to 2030 had made production uneconomic.

From BBC

With just three months until election day, she generated a wave of initial momentum, which included a flurry of memes on social media, a star-studded endorsement list that included Taylor Swift and a record-setting donation windfall.

From BBC

The chancellor also confirmed a windfall tax the UK government levies on the profits made by oil and gas firms will rise from 38% from 35% on 1 November, and will remain in place until 2030.

From BBC

Related Words

• bonanza
• bonus