windfall

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
15
Words With Friends
18
Letters
8
Pronunciation
/ˈwɪnd.fɔːl/
See all 4 pronunciations
/ˈwɪnd.fɔːl/ · /ˈwɪnd.fɔl/ · /ˈwɪnd.fɑl/ · /ˈwɪnd.fo(ː)l/

Definition of windfall

4 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

noun

  1. Something that has been blown down by the wind.
See all 4 definitions

noun

  1. Something that has been blown down by the wind.
  2. (uncountable)The act of something being blown down by wind.
    “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.
    “They couldn't reach the branches, so they ate the windfalls.”
  4. (figuratively)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.
    “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.”
    “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.”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

From Middle English windfal, wyndfall, equivalent to wind + fall. Cognate with Middle High German wintval, wintfal, German Windfall.

Hooks

1 extension · 1 back

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