Word
windfall
Phoneticswind·fall, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɪndˌfɔɫ/
UK/wˈɪndfɔːl/
Definition
n. a sudden and unexpected gain of money or something valuable. It is often a lucky break that happens by chance.
n. an unexpected and sudden gain of money or property. Often used to describe a windfall of fortune or a sudden increase in income.
Examples
“The lottery win was a huge windfall for the family.”
“The sudden sale of the old property provided a much-needed windfall to pay off the mortgage.”
“While the initial windfall from the merger allowed the company to expand rapidly, the long-term success depended on maintaining the quality of their core products.”
Examples
simple
“The lottery win was a huge windfall for the family.”
contextual
“The sudden sale of the old property provided a much-needed windfall to pay off the mortgage.”
complex
“While the initial windfall from the merger allowed the company to expand rapidly, the long-term success depended on maintaining the quality of their core products.”
Real-World Examples
“Woodside Energy has scrapped its long-term emissions and clean energy targets, even after enjoying a period of windfall oil profits caused by the Iran conflict.” “You might think that such big numbers of visitors automatically create windfalls for the towns and businesses that serve them.” Etymology
From Middle English windfal, wyndfall, equivalent to wind + fall. Cognate with Middle High German wintval, wintfal, German Windfall.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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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