Bonus Meaning
Bonus Definition & Usage
A payment or reward given in addition to a regular salary or wage, often as an incentive or bonus.
Examples
- "At the end of the year, employees are usually given a bonus for their hard work."
- "The company offered a generous bonus to its top-performing salespeople."
- "She received a substantial bonus after exceeding her sales target."
- "In some countries, workers receive a 13th-month bonus as part of their annual salary."
- "The manager promised to review the performance bonuses next month."
An extra benefit or advantage that is received in addition to the main or expected reward.
Examples
- "The free drinks and snacks were a nice bonus during the long meeting."
- "The bonus feature in the software allows users to access additional tools."
- "She enjoyed the bonus of getting two extra days off after the project was completed."
- "As a bonus, they offered a free consultation with an expert."
- "The bonus of traveling abroad was the opportunity to learn a new language."
In video games or gambling, a bonus refers to an extra reward or feature that enhances the player's experience, often as part of a game mechanism.
Examples
- "The game awarded him a bonus round after he completed the puzzle."
- "You can unlock special bonuses by reaching higher levels in the game."
- "The slot machine gave a bonus after three matching symbols appeared."
- "Some games offer bonus points for completing certain achievements."
- "Winning a bonus in the casino can greatly increase your chances of winning."
Cultural Context
The word 'bonus' originates from the Latin word 'bonus', meaning 'good' or 'advantageous'. It has evolved to mean something extra or additional that is given in appreciation or as an incentive. In the modern business world, bonuses are a common practice in many countries, especially in industries like finance, sales, and tech.
The Surprising Bonus
Story
The Surprising Bonus
Laura had been working tirelessly at her new job for six months. As a junior designer at a fast-paced marketing firm, she often stayed late, double-checked her work, and contributed ideas during brainstorming sessions. Despite the pressure, she loved the work and was excited about the potential opportunities. What she didn’t expect was the surprise email that arrived one Wednesday afternoon. The subject line read: 'End-of-Year Bonus Announcement'. 'Your hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed,' it began. Laura’s eyes widened. The email outlined her performance bonus, a substantial amount that far exceeded her expectations. It was a reward for not just her personal achievements but for the team’s success in landing several major accounts. Laura felt a wave of gratitude and excitement. She was now in a better position to pay off some bills and even take a short vacation. At the same time, the company announced a special 'bonus' feature for the software they were working on: a new set of tools that would make designing even more efficient. Laura felt grateful for this too, as it meant less time spent on tedious tasks and more time for creative projects. But the real bonus came when her manager told her she could take the following Friday off as an additional perk. Laura could hardly believe it — the extra day of rest felt like an unexpected gift that allowed her to recharge fully. As she prepared to head home that evening, she realized that, for the first time in months, everything seemed to be falling into place. By the time she received her bonus check in the mail a week later, Laura had already planned a little weekend getaway. The bonus, in every sense of the word, had come to her in ways she hadn’t anticipated, making her feel appreciated and motivated to continue her hard work.
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