bonus
B1Neutral to formal; common in business, finance, and informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
an extra payment or benefit given in addition to what is usual or expected, often as a reward or incentive.
An unexpected, positive addition or advantage in any situation; something welcome that is extra.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically implies something extra beyond the standard or contractual agreement. Can be tangible (money, goods) or intangible (advantage, feature).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. In finance, both use 'bonus issue' (UK) / 'stock dividend' (US). 'Christmas bonus' is common in both.
Connotations
Strongly associated with corporate culture and performance rewards in both varieties.
Frequency
Very high frequency in business contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[receive/earn/get] a bonus[pay/offer/award] a bonusbonus [for/of] good performancebonus [on top of] salaryVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “no-claims bonus (UK)”
- “bonus round”
- “feel like a bonus”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A financial reward for employees based on company or individual performance.
Academic
Rare; can refer to an unexpected benefit in a research finding.
Everyday
Used for any unexpected extra benefit, e.g., 'The sunny weather was a real bonus.'
Technical
In finance: a bonus issue of shares. In gaming: extra points or features.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company will bonus its top performers this quarter.
- He was bonused a substantial amount.
American English
- The firm plans to bonus the sales team for their record year.
- She got bonused with extra vacation days.
adjective
British English
- We enjoyed a bonus day of holiday.
- The bonus material on the DVD was fascinating.
American English
- The bonus check arrived just in time.
- He scored a bonus point in the final round.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My dad got a bonus at work.
- The hotel gave us a bonus breakfast.
- If we meet our targets, we will receive a performance bonus.
- The sunny weather was a nice bonus for our holiday.
- The signing bonus was a major factor in her decision to accept the job offer.
- As a bonus feature, the software includes advanced security tools.
- The unexpected tax rebate served as a welcome fiscal bonus for the household.
- The study's secondary finding, while not its primary aim, provided a significant theoretical bonus.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BONUS as a BON (good in French) + US gift for US – a good extra for you.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXTRA IS ABOVE / REWARD IS SWEET (e.g., 'icing on the cake').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'премия' which is more formal/official reward; 'бонус' is a direct loanword used similarly.
- Avoid using for 'discount' (скидка). 'Bonus' is an addition, not a reduction.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'bonus' to mean a basic part of something (e.g., 'Salary is my bonus').
- Incorrect plural: 'bonuses' (correct), not 'boni' (except in rare Latinized financial contexts).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bonus' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while often financial, it can refer to any extra benefit or feature, like 'bonus content' or 'the bonus of living nearby'.
A commission is typically a percentage of sales made (directly tied to output). A bonus is a discretionary or contractually agreed extra payment, often for performance or as a share of profits.
Yes, though it is business jargon (e.g., 'The company bonused its staff'). It's less common in everyday speech than 'give/pay a bonus'.
Primarily British (and Commonwealth) English. In American English, the equivalent concept is a 'no-claims discount' or 'safe driver discount'.