bonanza

/bəˈnænzə/

/bəˈnænzə/

Other forms: bonanzas

An unexpected increase in tourism to a small town could be a bonanza for the locals. Bonanza means "a sudden opportunity to make money."

Bonanza is a noun that means "a sudden rush of wealth or good fortune," but in a more scientific sense it means "a rich source of a precious metal." So, if you happen to strike gold in your backyard, that would be a bonanza on both fronts. "Boom towns" that sprung up during the California Gold Rush were created by a bonanza. More casually, bonanza can mean something like "a big to-do," or an extravaganza.

Definitions of bonanza

1. noun

   a sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money)
   synonyms: boom, bunce, godsend, gold rush, gravy, manna from heaven, windfall

   type of:

   happening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent

   an event that happens
2. noun

   an especially rich vein of precious ore
   type of:

   mineral vein, vein

   a layer of ore between layers of rock