: 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
One Christmas, Alfortish surprised Garrison with a twenty-five-thousand-dollar bonus.
—
Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
And retailers that sell winning tickets typically receive a bonus from the lottery for their involvement in the sale.
—Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Most guys like their money sooner rather than later, which is why players love the Browns’ strategy of turning base salary into signing bonuses.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Lucien is devious and clever in not-especially-fresh ways but Christopher’s naked need for acceptance into Lucien’s world is easy to relate to, with the bonus entertainment value of both a criminal scheme that’s bound to go sideways and a sneak peek at the fascinating world of forgery.
—Chris Hewitt, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bonus
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Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
And retailers that sell winning tickets typically receive a bonus from the lottery for their involvement in the sale.
—Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Most guys like their money sooner rather than later, which is why players love the Browns’ strategy of turning base salary into signing bonuses.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Lucien is devious and clever in not-especially-fresh ways but Christopher’s naked need for acceptance into Lucien’s world is easy to relate to, with the bonus entertainment value of both a criminal scheme that’s bound to go sideways and a sneak peek at the fascinating world of forgery.
—Chris Hewitt, Boston Herald, 12 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 14 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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