windfall
noun
wind·fall
ˈwin(d)-ˌfȯl 
1
: something (such as a tree or fruit) blown down by the wind
2
: an unexpected, unearned, or sudden gain or advantage
Examples of windfall in a Sentence
They received a windfall because of the tax cuts.
hitting the lottery jackpot was an incredible windfall for the recently laid-off worker
Recent Examples on the Web
That makes balance-transfer cards best for people who have experienced a temporary financial setback or who expect to receive a raise, an inheritance or some other windfall.
—
David McMillin, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2025
At this time in 2024, Michigan was expecting a windfall of federal funds to fuel a transition to clean energy, along with billions of dollars' worth of green manufacturing projects subsidized by the Biden administration's signature climate spending bills.
—CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
Keeping the windfall private Arkansas is one of a growing number of states allowing lottery winners to remain anonymous.
—Toni Odejimi, CNN Money, 26 Dec. 2025
Decades of research show that new sports stadium projects seldom provide the economic windfall that boosters and lawmakers promise.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for windfall
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David McMillin, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2025
At this time in 2024, Michigan was expecting a windfall of federal funds to fuel a transition to clean energy, along with billions of dollars' worth of green manufacturing projects subsidized by the Biden administration's signature climate spending bills.
—CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
Keeping the windfall private Arkansas is one of a growing number of states allowing lottery winners to remain anonymous.
—Toni Odejimi, CNN Money, 26 Dec. 2025
Decades of research show that new sports stadium projects seldom provide the economic windfall that boosters and lawmakers promise.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for windfall
Cite this Entry
“Windfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/windfall. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
windfall
noun
wind·fall
-ˌfȯl
1
: something (as a tree or fruit) blown down by the wind
2
: an unexpected gift, gain, or help
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