: 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
Here’s where to look and how to make the most of this meteor shower, with bonus advice for the Leonids and Geminids, which might yield more meteors-per-hour, but won’t be as bright as the Orionids!
—
Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
With 23 songs, the album features Janet Jackson, Megan Thee Stallion, Selena Gomez, Lizzo, Summer Walker, and Tyla, with a bonus track featuring Latto.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 13 Oct. 2025
The superstar issued dozens of variants of her album in vinyl, CD and digital download formats — 38 different ones, by Billboard’s last count, most of them limited editions featuring different cover art and/or acoustic bonus tracks.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
DraftKings Sportsbook has tons of betting options that will give you a good chance of winning the $300 in bonuses.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bonus
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Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
With 23 songs, the album features Janet Jackson, Megan Thee Stallion, Selena Gomez, Lizzo, Summer Walker, and Tyla, with a bonus track featuring Latto.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 13 Oct. 2025
The superstar issued dozens of variants of her album in vinyl, CD and digital download formats — 38 different ones, by Billboard’s last count, most of them limited editions featuring different cover art and/or acoustic bonus tracks.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
DraftKings Sportsbook has tons of betting options that will give you a good chance of winning the $300 in bonuses.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 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 15 Oct. 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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