bonus

noun

bo·​nus ˈbō-nəs 

: 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

Synonyms of bonus

• dividend
• gift
• extra
• contribution
• tip
• perk
• donation
• pension

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

This will cover your first bet on an NFL Week 14 game to activate the $150 bonus or use the $1,000 safety net. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2025

Because what was once a local birthright of sorts now has been rendered an intermittent bonus. —Kansas City Star, 8 Dec. 2025

Each plan comes with the bonus of towing, car rental and 24/7 roadside assistance. —Alora Bopray, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025

Robbins and McCarthy exited and thus received $21.8 million and $18.6 million in addition to their compensation as bonuses tied to their termination. —Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, literally, good — more at bounty

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bonus

• bonis
• clonus
• conus
• cronus
• jonas
• lowness
• onus
• slowness
• tonus
• colonus
• coregonus
• dendroctonus

Kids 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