bonus

[boh-nuhs]

noun

plural

bonuses 

1. something given or paid over and above what is due.

   Synonyms: gift, honorarium, reward

2. a sum of money granted or given to an employee, a returned soldier, etc., in addition to regular pay, usually in appreciation for work done, length of service, accumulated favors, etc.

3. something free, as an extra dividend, given by a corporation to a purchaser of its securities.

4. a premium paid for a loan, contract, etc.

5. something extra or additional given freely.

   Every purchaser of a pound of coffee received a box of cookies as a bonus.

bonus

/ ˈbəʊnəs /

noun

1. something given, paid, or received above what is due or expected

   a Christmas bonus for all employees

2. an extra dividend allotted to shareholders out of profits

3. insurance a dividend, esp a percentage of net profits, distributed to policyholders either annually or when the policy matures

4. a slang word for a bribe

Word History and Origins

Origin of bonus¹

1765–75; < Latin: good

Word History and Origins

Origin of bonus¹

C18: from Latin bonus (adj) good

Synonym Study

Bonus, bounty, premium refer to something extra beyond a stipulated payment. A bonus is a gift to reward performance, paid either by a private employer or by a government: a bonus based on salary; a soldiers' bonus. A bounty is a public aid or reward offered to stimulate interest in a specific purpose or undertaking and to encourage performance: a bounty for killing wolves. A premium is usually something additional given as an inducement to buy, produce, or the like: a premium received with a magazine subscription. See also present ².

Example Sentences

As an added bonus, the Brewers led baseball in infield hits.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Among Swift’s strategies to get to that number was selling more than three dozen editions of the album, each with its own artwork and bonus material designed to lure collectors.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The pickup in total wage growth—which includes bonuses—to 5.0% in August from 4.8% in July could be a concern for some rate setters.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Fans who wanted bonus tunes or knickknacks or just aimed to champion their favorite artist bought multiple copies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Department for Education said it was working to ensure nurseries had the staff they needed, with new staff in disadvantaged areas offered a £4,500 tax-free bonus.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• benefit 
• bounty 
• dividend 
• gift 
• gratuity 
• perk 
• premium 
• prize 
• reward