bonus

noun

bo·​nus ˈbō-nəs 

: something in addition to what is expected or strictly due: such as

a

: money or an equivalent given in addition to an employee's usual compensation

b

: a premium (as of stock) given by a corporation to a purchaser of its securities, to a promoter, or to an employee

c

: a government payment to war veterans

d

: a sum in excess of salary given to an athlete for signing with a team

Synonyms

• cumshaw
• dividend
• donative
• extra
• gratuity
• gravy
• gravy train
• lagniappe
• perk
• perquisite
• throw-in
• tip

Examples of bonus in a Sentence

As a bonus for good behavior you can stay up late.

The product has the added bonus of providing extra vitamins.

Staff members were given a bonus for finishing the project on schedule.

The company offered bonuses to entice new workers.

We receive annual bonuses at the end of the year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tucker, the 5th overall player taken in that draft, was given a $4 million signing bonus by the Astros. —Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

His signing bonus of $45,000 is almost 70 times the median annual income of his fellow Ugandans. —Greg Presto, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025

Third baseman Alex Bregman would make sense on a shorter-term deal, though because the Astros gave him a qualifying offer, the Cubs would lose their second- and fifth-highest picks in the 2025 draft and $1 million from their international bonus pool. —Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025

Sasaki's signing bonus can only be paid out of a team's international amateur bonus pool. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, literally, good — more at bounty

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bonus

noun

bo·​nus ˈbō-nəs 

: something given to somebody (as a worker) in addition to what is usual or owed

Etymology

from Latin bonus "good" — related to bona fide, bonbon, boon entry 2, bounty