windfall
Unexpected financial gain
A windfall is an unexpected gain or piece of good luck, especially money: The inheritance was a windfall she hadn't anticipated.
The term comes from fruit blown down by wind—free for the taking without climbing or picking.
A windfall profit or windfall tax relates to gains from circumstances beyond one's control rather than effort or skill.
Property received from ancestors
- jackpotAccumulated gambling prize
- bequestGift left by will
- legacyWhat's passed down
- bonanzaSudden large windfall
godsend · bounty · boon · lottery · treasure · wealth · riches · estate
Likelihood of occurrence
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- flukeChance stroke of luck
- fatePredetermined course of events
- providenceDivine protective care
kismet · fortuity · fortune · accident · coincidence · break · twist · stroke
inheritance
Property received from ancestors
bonanza · godsend · bounty · boon · lottery · treasure · wealth · riches · estate · endowment
chance
Likelihood of occurrence
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- flukeChance stroke of luck
- fatePredetermined course of events
providence · kismet · fortuity · fortune · accident · coincidence · break · twist · stroke · randomness
profit
Gain exceeding expenditure
earnings · gain · yield · return · revenue · investment · tax · surplus · royalty · proceeds
apple
Crisp tree fruit
autumn · crop · picking · ripe · gathering · bruised · cider · gleaning · ground · seasonal
- striking goldjackpot, eureka, bonanza, paydirt, mother lode
- Timing & Fortunelucky break, perfect timing, window of opportunity, good fortune, serendipity
- financial gainsprofit, revenue, returns, capital gains, earnings
- easy moneyeasy money, quick buck, fast cash, gravy train, free lunch
- quick moneyfast money, quick flip, cash grab
- compound wordsbookmark, breakdown, sunlight, breakup, snowflake
windfallcalamity
Severe misfortune or disaster
disaster · misfortune · catastrophe · tragedy · curse
windfallearned income
Pay from work
wages · salary · nest egg · steady income · sweat equity
windfallfinancial ruin
Complete loss of wealth
loss · deficit · setback · debt · bankruptcy
- windfall profitsSudden unexpected large gains