gratuity
Americannoun
plural
gratuities-
a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip.
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something given without claim or demand.
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British.
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a bonus granted to war veterans by the government.
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a bonus given military personnel on discharge or retirement.
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noun
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a gift or reward, usually of money, for services rendered; tip
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something given without claim or obligation
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military a financial award granted for long or meritorious service
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.
Vocabulary lists containing gratuity
100 SAT Words Beginning with "G"
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Ratios and Proportional Relationships
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Ratios and Proportional Relationships
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
So a gratuity is money that’s given after an official act has been done by a public official.
From Slate • Sep. 6, 2024
Hope you always remember to leave a gratuity to your housekeepers.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 24, 2023
Ototo, a sake bar in Echo Park, charges dine-in guests an “18% fair wage and operational fee” that is not a gratuity for staff.
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
