What does "bonus" mean?

1. (extra money) extra money that you are paid by your employer, usually for doing a good job. 2. (added benefit) something extra that is good or helpful, but not expected. 3. (extra points) extra points given to a player or team for doing something well in a game. 4. (to pay extra) to give someone extra money as a reward.

How do you use "bonus"?

Usually a countable noun; often used with the verbs 'pay', 'receive', or 'award'. Often used in the phrase 'an added bonus'. This transitive verb use is less common than the noun form and is typically found in corporate or legal contexts.

bonus

n. · v.

US //ˈboʊnəs// UK //bˈəʊnəs// bonus

1 extra money (n.)
B1 Intermediate

extra money that you are paid by your employer, usually for doing a good job.

a sum of money added to a person's wages as a reward for good performance or as a share of profits.

Example

The company gave every employee a small bonus at the end of the year.

Example

The executive board approved a performance-based bonus for the sales department after they exceeded their quarterly targets by twenty percent.

Usage

Usually a countable noun; often used with the verbs 'pay', 'receive', or 'award'.
2 added benefit (n.)
B1 Intermediate

something extra that is good or helpful, but not expected.

an additional advantage or benefit that is incidental to the main purpose.

Example

The hotel was cheap, and the free breakfast was a nice bonus.

Example

While the primary goal of the project was efficiency, the reduction in carbon emissions served as a significant environmental bonus.

Usage

Often used in the phrase 'an added bonus'.
- drawback
- disadvantage

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3 extra points (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

extra points given to a player or team for doing something well in a game.

an addition to a player's or team's score based on specific achievements or performance metrics.

Example

You get a ten-point bonus if you finish the level in under two minutes.

Example

The striker earned a goal-scoring bonus in his contract, which triggered automatically after his fifteenth successful strike of the season.
- extra points
- penalty
4 to pay extra (v.)
C2 Proficiency Formal Technical

to give someone extra money as a reward.

to provide a person or entity with a premium or supplementary payment.

Example

The firm decided to bonus the staff after a very successful merger.

Example

The contract specifies that the agency will bonus the consultants only upon the successful completion of the final audit phase.

Usage

This transitive verb use is less common than the noun form and is typically found in corporate or legal contexts.
- reward
- compensate

Origin

Borrowed from Latin bonus (“good”). Doublet of bona.