: 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
As for Stellantis, the automaker is replicating the federal tax credit for its plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles for existing dealer inventory with bonus cash.
—
Susan Tompor, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
Click above and use BetMGM bonus code WEEK150 to sign up in select states (MI, NJ, PA and WV).
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
Hough ultimately emerged victorious, earning $63,350 for Feeding America despite missing the final bonus round.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
His most current deal—signed in 2021 and due to run through June 30, 2028—paid him $1.32 million last fiscal year, not including performance bonuses.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bonus
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Susan Tompor, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
Click above and use BetMGM bonus code WEEK150 to sign up in select states (MI, NJ, PA and WV).
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
Hough ultimately emerged victorious, earning $63,350 for Feeding America despite missing the final bonus round.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
His most current deal—signed in 2021 and due to run through June 30, 2028—paid him $1.32 million last fiscal year, not including performance bonuses.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 7 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 22 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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