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

As a bonus, this serum can also help visibly plump up your complexion, improve facial contours and reduce the appearance of fine lines. —Denise Primbet, Glamour, 21 Feb. 2025

As a bonus, Deathloop also has an invasion system that, in WIRED staff writer Will Bedingfield's opinion, is the game's best feature. —Brad Bourque, WIRED, 21 Feb. 2025

Additional minor adjustments to some bonuses from Rarity and Poms of Power. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025

Years ago, Cleveland GM Andrew Berry pushed Garrett’s cap hits into the future by prorating Garrett’s bonuses. —Jacob Robinson, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, literally, good — more at bounty

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bonus

• bonis
• clonus
• conus
• cronus
• jonas
• lowness
• onus
• slowness
• tonus
• colonus
• coregonus
• dendroctonus

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