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

The Knicks offered the BAA’s rookie max of $5,000, but in a bidding war between the competing leagues, the Nats offered a first-year salary of $7,000 plus a $500 bonus. — Rob Peterson, New York Times, 26 July 2026

As a bonus Saturday, Daly provided a tent plus post-Mass snacks. — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Valter Walker earned a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his calf slicer, while Ankalaev received a $25,000 finish bonus. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

The 170% increase was largely driven by higher unit costs, the expansion of the field from a 32- to a 48-team format and the introduction of the mid-half H₂O pauses—the latter of which Fox was keen to convert into bonus commercial time. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 July 2026

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