: 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
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
Incentivized by larger sales bonuses, brokers were using deceptive marketing materials to sell short-term policies, the report said.
—
Peter Whoriskey The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 16 Nov. 2025
Make picks for players like Emeka Egbuka, Kyren Williams, Patrick Mahomes and more to make your initial $5 play and secure the $100 in bonuses from this offer.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025
Trump pledges $10,000 bonuses for air traffic controllers who worked during shutdown
Trump on Monday pledged to provide $10,000 bonuses to air traffic controllers who worked while being unpaid during the shutdown and threatened to dock the pay of those who haven't reported to work.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Each event includes a screening, bonus footage and, of course, Berkley.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bonus
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Peter Whoriskey The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 16 Nov. 2025
Make picks for players like Emeka Egbuka, Kyren Williams, Patrick Mahomes and more to make your initial $5 play and secure the $100 in bonuses from this offer.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025
Trump pledges $10,000 bonuses for air traffic controllers who worked during shutdown
Trump on Monday pledged to provide $10,000 bonuses to air traffic controllers who worked while being unpaid during the shutdown and threatened to dock the pay of those who haven't reported to work.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Each event includes a screening, bonus footage and, of course, Berkley.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bonus
Cite this Entry
“Bonus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bonus. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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