gratuity
noun
gra·tu·i·ty
grə-ˈtü-ə-tē 
-ˈtyü-
plural gratuities
: something given voluntarily or beyond obligation usually for some service
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Gratuity vs. Tip
Gratuity is a fancier and more formal word than tip. It occurs most often in written notices along the lines of "Gratuities accepted". Its formality makes it best suited for describing tips of the dignified, expensive variety. For the taxi driver who takes you to the superb Belgian restaurant, it's a tip; for the restaurant's maitre d', it's a gratuity.
Examples of gratuity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Courtesy of Canyon Spirit The Signature Experience (the company’s version of coach service) includes daily breakfast, lunch, snacks, and both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages aboard, motorcoach transfers to the hotels, luggage transfers, and gratuities for the service team.
—
Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 20 Mar. 2025
Trump Speech: No Tax On Tips Proposal And Economic Implications
Overview: Trump’s no tax on tips proposal aims to exempt income earned from customer gratuities (tips) from federal income taxation.
—Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Shah also rejected defense arguments that the jury was allowed to convict based on a theory of gratuities — after-the-fact rewards for a politician that the high court ruled in Snyder was not barred by the federal bribery statute.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Tipping at restaurants hit a six-year low last year, according to The Wall Street Journal, with rising menu prices and increasing demands for gratuities being blamed.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratuity
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Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 20 Mar. 2025
Trump Speech: No Tax On Tips Proposal And Economic Implications
Overview: Trump’s no tax on tips proposal aims to exempt income earned from customer gratuities (tips) from federal income taxation.
—Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Shah also rejected defense arguments that the jury was allowed to convict based on a theory of gratuities — after-the-fact rewards for a politician that the high court ruled in Snyder was not barred by the federal bribery statute.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Tipping at restaurants hit a six-year low last year, according to The Wall Street Journal, with rising menu prices and increasing demands for gratuities being blamed.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratuity
Cite this Entry
“Gratuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gratuity. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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