bonusbo·nus /ˈbəʊnəsˈboʊ-/ noun [countableC]1HUMAN RESOURCESan extra amount of money added to an employee’s wages, usually as a reward for doing difficult or good workThe bonus is discretionary but linked to performance.
The car company is offering its workforce a £3,000 cash bonus to take voluntary redundancy.
→ acceptance bonus → attendance bonus → loyalty bonus → performance bonus → productivity bonus2 (also capital bonus)INSURANCE an extra payment from a life insurance company’s profits to people who have certain types of life insuranceOn with-profits policies, bonuses are maintained at 6%.
→ terminal bonus3INSURANCE a reduction in the cost of insurance when no claims are made during a particular period of timeIf you make a claim in any period of insurance, any no-claim bonus which you have earned may be reduced at your next renewal.