gratuity

American  

[gruh-too-i-tee, -tyoo-] / grəˈtu ɪ ti, -ˈtju- /

noun

gratuities plural

1. a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip.

2. something given without claim or demand.

3. British.

   1. a bonus granted to war veterans by the government.

   2. a bonus given military personnel on discharge or retirement.

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gratuity British  

/ ɡrəˈtjuːɪtɪ /

noun

1. a gift or reward, usually of money, for services rendered; tip

2. something given without claim or obligation

3. military a financial award granted for long or meritorious service

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• gratuities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gratuity

1515–25; < Middle French gratuite, equivalent to Latin grātuī ( tus ) free + Middle French -te -ty ²

Explanation

A gratuity is a tip that's given by a customer in exchange for services. You might leave a gratuity of several dollars when you eat lunch in a restaurant or when you get your hair cut. A gratuity is usually a relatively small amount of money, a percentage of the total cost of a purchase or service. A gratuity doesn't pay for the goods purchased — it's a separate reward to the person who did the work. For example, in the United States, waiters and waitresses typically expect a gratuity of between 18 and 20 percent of the total cost of a meal.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gratuity gratuities

The report said the goal seemed to be to circumvent a $2,500 cap and add a $480 gratuity, or 20%, in a place where tipping isn’t customary.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

A spokeswoman for Efling Union, the second-largest union in Iceland, says this has led to a number of restaurants in the country asking customers if they want to add a gratuity when they pay.

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

The status quo may prevail, tip screens and all, but consumers may begin to decide whether they really want to tip 30% or if they will just skip the gratuity altogether, experts say.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 24, 2025

California’s gratuity law requires that nonmanagerial service staff receive their tips in full, and employers may not keep any portion of those tips.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2023

“No, no, Captain Tate. I’ll take no gratuity from you, sir. My pleasure, sir.”

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

Forgoing a proper tip means you’re taking advantage of the people serving you, who rely on gratuities as their primary source of income.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 3, 2026

Ridley-Thomas’ lawyers had already accused prosecutors of conflating bribery and gratuities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2024

In this term alone, they decided that gratuities are no longer a crime that can be prosecuted at the federal level.

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2024

He said he had witnessed officials whose demands for gratuities had been refused helping themselves to the ship's food provisions.

From BBC ● May 14, 2024

Later on the dozen men who answered the advertisement made it impossible for either starter or elevator-men ever to forget who H. R. was without the use of gratuities, profanity, or promises.

From H. R. by Lefevre, Edwin

Related Words

• bonus
• fringe benefit
• perk