: 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
Many players also opt for deferrals and large signing bonuses (as opposed to a higher salary) to avoid paying income tax in certain states.
—
Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
The incentive structure is based on multiples of five cases from the Criminal Trial Support Unit’s unassigned defendants’ list, where bar advocates can take on five, 10, or 15 such cases for a possible maximum of $7,500 in incentive bonuses — 15 cases at $500 each.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
But foul trouble started to become an issue as Illinois got into the double bonus and slowly cut down the lead from the free throw line.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
These were barn dance musicians, hired to make life better for a few hours and, as a bonus, long into the future to come.
—Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bonus
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Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
The incentive structure is based on multiples of five cases from the Criminal Trial Support Unit’s unassigned defendants’ list, where bar advocates can take on five, 10, or 15 such cases for a possible maximum of $7,500 in incentive bonuses — 15 cases at $500 each.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
But foul trouble started to become an issue as Illinois got into the double bonus and slowly cut down the lead from the free throw line.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
These were barn dance musicians, hired to make life better for a few hours and, as a bonus, long into the future to come.
—Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bonus
Cite this Entry
“Bonus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bonus. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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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