windfall — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Something that has been blown down by the wind.

2. The act of something being blown down by wind.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The danger from windfall is greatest to trees developed in dense stands, which are tall and have slender stems, and increases with the age of the stand.

3. A fruit that has fallen from a tree naturally, as from wind.

   Examples

   They couldn't reach the branches, so they ate the windfalls.

4. A sudden large benefit; especially, a sudden or unexpected large amount of money, as from lottery or sweepstakes winnings or an unexpected inheritance or gift.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Synonyms

   godsendboon

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Businessmen rushed to get every last commodity aboard a departing ship, hoping for a windfall once the world realized these would be the very last sacks of flour available, thus driving up prices.

   One of six siblings who’d been raised by a single mother, the client had earned a windfall of around $400,000 after going viral in 2021.

   More examples (1)

   In addition to following the lead of Newcastle and Crystal Palace in making this a season of glory for clubs who rarely, if ever, win a trophy, Tottenham are also set to benefit from a £100m windfall after qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Noun

1. fruit that has fallen from the tree

   Broader terms

   edible fruit

2. a sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money)

   Synonyms

   boombonanzagold rushgravygodsendmanna from heavenbunce

   Broader terms

   happeningoccurrenceoccurrentnatural event

   Examples

   the demand for testing has created a boom for those unregulated laboratories where boxes of specimen jars are processed like an assembly line