Word
bonanza
Phoneticsbo·nan·za, stress on the second syllable
US/bəˈnænzə/
UK/bənˈænzɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a situation where people suddenly make a lot of money or find something very valuable. It can also mean a large amount of something good that happens all at once.
n. a situation or event that creates sudden wealth, profit, or good fortune. Originally referring to a rich vein of ore in mining, it now describes any large-scale windfall or abundance.
Examples
“The tech company's new app created a profit bonanza.”
“The holiday season proved to be a sales bonanza for local retailers, with many reporting record-breaking revenue.”
“What began as a modest discovery of gold soon turned into a full-scale mining bonanza, drawing thousands of hopeful prospectors to the remote valley in search of quick riches.”
Examples
simple
“The tech company's new app created a profit bonanza.”
contextual
“The holiday season proved to be a sales bonanza for local retailers, with many reporting record-breaking revenue.”
complex
“What began as a modest discovery of gold soon turned into a full-scale mining bonanza, drawing thousands of hopeful prospectors to the remote valley in search of quick riches.”
Usage
Often used with 'for' to indicate the beneficiary ('a bonanza for investors').
Real-World Examples
“Driven by nutrient-rich coastal upwellings generated by the East Australian Current , these hotspots provide temporary krill and baitfish bonanzas.” “They also offer a bonanza to scientists who come each year to the Abrolhos archipelago off the coast of the state of Bahia to record and study hundreds of the cetaceans.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *melh₂-der. Ancient Greek μᾰλᾰκός (mălăkós) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂ Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā) Ancient Greek μᾰλᾰκῐ́ᾱ (mălăkĭ́ā)bor. Latin malacia ▲ Latin bonusinflu. Vulgar Latin *bonacia Spanish bonanzabor. English bonanza Borrowed from Spanish bonanza (“dead calm, fair weather, good luck, rich lode”), from Vulgar Latin *bonacia (“lull, dead calm”), in turn from Latin malacia (“calm sea”), influenced by bonus (“good”) under the false impression that initial mal- is a derivate of malus (“bad”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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