bonus
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.extra money that you are paid by your employer, usually for doing a good job.
n.a sum of money added to a person's wages as a reward for good performance or as a share of profits.
Simple“The company gave every employee a small bonus at the end of the year.”
In context“The executive board approved a performance-based bonus for the sales department after they exceeded their quarterly targets by twenty percent.”
UsageUsually a countable noun; often used with the verbs 'pay', 'receive', or 'award'.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.something extra that is good or helpful, but not expected.
n.an additional advantage or benefit that is incidental to the main purpose.
Simple“The hotel was cheap, and the free breakfast was a nice bonus.”
In context“While the primary goal of the project was efficiency, the reduction in carbon emissions served as a significant environmental bonus.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'an added bonus'.
Antonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.extra points given to a player or team for doing something well in a game.
n.an addition to a player's or team's score based on specific achievements or performance metrics.
Simple“You get a ten-point bonus if you finish the level in under two minutes.”
In context“The striker earned a goal-scoring bonus in his contract, which triggered automatically after his fifteenth successful strike of the season.”
Synonymsextra pointsAntonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to give someone extra money as a reward.
v.to provide a person or entity with a premium or supplementary payment.
Simple“The firm decided to bonus the staff after a very successful merger.”
In context“The contract specifies that the agency will bonus the consultants only upon the successful completion of the final audit phase.”
UsageThis transitive verb use is less common than the noun form and is typically found in corporate or legal contexts.
Synonyms
“Teachers will receive total pay rises between 28.3% and 32.4% over four years, plus a $2,000 bonus at the start of the agreement.”
“More than five banks are currently offering incentives to switch - with the largest bonus £220.”
Borrowed from Latin bonus (“good”). Doublet of bona.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.