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

The country’s economic growth has slowed, and several Russian regions have cut signing bonuses for new recruits this year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Year-end bonuses are projected to be robust for the second-straight year, with double-digit increases in incentive pay in some businesses, according to financial services compensation consultancy Johnson Associates.

Read more on Barron's

That would cause a decline in the bonus payments it receives from the government.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That includes high salaries and bonuses for joining and large payouts to the families of those who die on the front lines.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At the same time, a cut to the government quality rating of Humana’s largest Medicare Advantage plan meant the company would lose out on future government bonuses.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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