bon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2informal (as slang/noun); literary/archaic (as adjective); neutral (in business/finance contexts)
Quick answer
What does “bon” mean?
Having positive qualities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Having positive qualities; good, pleasant, excellent; a positive event or thing.
A theatrical benefit performance; a voucher or ticket entitling the holder to a discount or free item; (slang) a pretty or attractive woman; (archaic) something good or advantageous.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK, 'bon' can refer to a theatrical benefit performance; in US, this usage is rare. 'Bon' as financial voucher appears in both but is more common in UK corporate contexts. Slang for attractive woman ('a bit of bon') is UK-specific.
Connotations
UK: slightly old-fashioned or niche (theatre, finance). US: mostly limited to French loan phrases; standalone use feels archaic or intentionally stylized.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both; higher in UK due to theatrical/finance usage.
Grammar
How to Use “bon” in a Sentence
bon + noun (archaic: bon fire)a bon of + value (financial)be + bon (predicative, archaic)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bon” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The old ledger noted a bon fire for the feast.
- He was considered a bon fellow in his day.
American English
- (Archaic) They hoped for bon weather on the journey.
- (Archaic) It was a bon piece of luck.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a financial voucher or bonus share issue.
Academic
Appears in historical texts or discussions of French loanwords.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in fixed French phrases.
Technical
In finance: a document entitling holder to securities.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bon”
- Using 'bon' as a general adjective (incorrect: *'This is bon.').
- Pronouncing as /bəʊn/ (like 'bone').
- Misspelling 'bon voyage' as 'bon voyage'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, except in fixed French phrases (bon voyage) or archaic/literary contexts. Use 'good' instead.
'Bon vivant' (masculine) is the original French term. 'Bon viveur' is an English alteration; both mean a person who enjoys luxuries.
No, it's low-frequency. Its most common uses are in well-known French loan phrases.
Like 'bon' in 'bonbon'. UK: /bɒn/ (like 'on'). US: /bɑːn/ (like 'fawn' without the 'f').
Having positive qualities.
Bon is usually informal (as slang/noun); literary/archaic (as adjective); neutral (in business/finance contexts) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bon viveur (variant of bon vivant)”
- “make a bon of it (archaic: profit)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BON = Benefit Or Nothing (recalls its meaning as a voucher/benefit).
Conceptual Metaphor
GOOD IS UP (bon = something positive, elevated).
Practice
Quiz
In a UK financial context, what is a 'bon' most likely to be?