Bonus
n.joyful, hopefuleveryday
Meaning 1
An extra benefit, reward, or welcome feature beyond what was expected.
Reach for it when highlighting an additional advantage without making it the main reason
The apartment's small balcony was an unexpected bonus.
Choose between these
4- playful
a pleasant privilege comes with a role
not when a one-time added result is meant
- everyday
extra
the addition is neutral rather than rewarding
not when the feature should sound distinctly welcome
- professional
added benefit
clarity matters more than liveliness
not when warm conversational wording is preferred
- literary
an unplanned gain is unusually large
not when the reward is modest or expected
Meaning 2
Additional pay awarded for performance, results, or a defined condition.
Reach for it when referring to compensation beyond regular wages
Every warehouse employee received the same winter bonus.
Choose between these
2- professional
extra pay compensates for special conditions
not when performance rather than working conditions determines it
- formal
incentive payment
pay is tied to a stated target
not when the bonus is guaranteed rather than motivational
Said against
3- penalty
- drawback
- pay cut
It naturally appears in
3- added bonus
An added bonus was the chance to meet the craftspeople who made the chairs.
- welcome bonus
Free repairs for a year were a welcome bonus.
- annual bonus
The annual bonus reflected team safety results as well as output.
Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, Noun sense 1: extra benefit opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Wiktionary, Noun sense 2: extra payment opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.