: 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
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
Landwehr has won four performance bonuses in his UFC career, and he's captured the additional $50,000 in three of his last four fights.
—
Brian Mazique, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
All bonuses or First Bet Reset paybacks will be rewarded in bonus bets that must be used within seven (7) days of receipt.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
The deal includes pay raises of 38% over four years, and ratification and productivity bonuses.
—David Koenig, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Travelers can buy up to 100,000 miles per transaction and receive an additional 100,000 bonus miles at checkout.
—Stella Shon, Travel Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bonus 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Brian Mazique, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
All bonuses or First Bet Reset paybacks will be rewarded in bonus bets that must be used within seven (7) days of receipt.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
The deal includes pay raises of 38% over four years, and ratification and productivity bonuses.
—David Koenig, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Travelers can buy up to 100,000 miles per transaction and receive an additional 100,000 bonus miles at checkout.
—Stella Shon, Travel Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bonus
Dictionary Entries Near bonus
Cite this Entry
“Bonus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bonus. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share