noun
bonanza
buh-NAN-zuh
Bonanza (noun) means a rich, unexpected source of wealth, luck, or success. Example: “The tourist boom was a bonanza for local hotel owners.”
noun
1
A rich, unexpected source of wealth, luck, or success.
"The tourist boom was a bonanza for local hotel owners."
"Finding that old comic book collection was a real bonanza."
2
A rich vein or deposit of ore, especially silver or gold.
"The miners struck a bonanza deep in the mountainside."
How to use bonanza
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sudden, generous stroke of luck or profit — much more than you were expecting.
Common pairings
a bonanza for someone
oil bonanza
tourist bonanza
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Word forms
- Plural
- bonanzas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tourist boom was a _____ for local hotel owners.
Etymology
From Spanish bonanza, meaning fair weather or good luck at sea, which came from a Latin word for a calm sea. Its spelling was later shaped by confusion with the unrelated Latin bonus, "good."
Related words
Rhymes for bonanza
See all rhymes for bonanza →Frequently asked questions
What does “bonanza” mean?
The word “bonanza” means a rich, unexpected source of wealth, luck, or success. In plain terms, a sudden, generous stroke of luck or profit — much more than you were expecting.
How do you pronounce “bonanza”?
“Bonanza” is pronounced buh-NAN-zuh (/bəˈnæn.zə/ in IPA).
How do you use “bonanza” in a sentence?
Here is “bonanza” used in a sentence: “The tourist boom was a bonanza for local hotel owners.”
What part of speech is “bonanza”?
“Bonanza” is a noun.
Where does the word “bonanza” come from?
The word “bonanza” comes from Latin. From Spanish bonanza, meaning fair weather or good luck at sea, which came from a Latin word for a calm sea. Its spelling was later shaped by confusion with the unrelated Latin bonus, "good.".
How many meanings does “bonanza” have?
“Bonanza” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a rich, unexpected source of wealth, luck, or success.
