: 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
Adding in all bonuses, that figure rose above €100m per year.
—
Pol Ballús, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Follow the links above to apply the BetMGM bonus code NW150.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
And best of all, many of them—including green tea, guarana, and yerba maté—provide bonus health benefits as well.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 27 May 2025
Also ask the company for the bonus payout history for the past five years.
—Debra Boggs, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bonus
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Pol Ballús, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Follow the links above to apply the BetMGM bonus code NW150.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
And best of all, many of them—including green tea, guarana, and yerba maté—provide bonus health benefits as well.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 27 May 2025
Also ask the company for the bonus payout history for the past five years.
—Debra Boggs, Forbes.com, 27 May 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 4 Jun. 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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