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.
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.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| playful | ||
| everyday |
| |
| professional |
| |
| formal | ||
| literary |
playful
Fits when a pleasant privilege comes with a role
Not when a one-time added result is meant
everyday
extra
Fits when the addition is neutral rather than rewarding
Not when the feature should sound distinctly welcome
professional
added benefit
Fits when clarity matters more than liveliness
Not when warm conversational wording is preferred
literary
Fits when an unplanned gain is unusually large
Not when the reward is modest or expected
formal
incentive payment
Fits when pay is tied to a stated target
Not when the bonus is guaranteed rather than motivational
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.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
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