gratuity

English

Etymology

From Old French gratuite (French gratuité), from Medieval Latin gratuitas (“a free gift”), from Latin gratuitus (“freely given, free”); see gratuitous.

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /ɡɹəˈtjuːətɪ/
(US) IPA^(key): /ɡɹəˈtuːətɪ/

Noun

gratuity (plural gratuities)

An additional payment given freely as thanks for service.
Euphemistic form of fee, in contexts where such additional payments have been made obligatory.
Euphemistic form of bribe.

Synonyms

(additional payment offered in thanks): douceur, grace, pourboire, tip; baksheesh (Turkish and Middle Eastern contexts); cumshaw (SE Chinese contexts; archaic); see also gift
(obligatory fee): service charge; douceur, tip (euphemistic)
(bribe): Thesaurus:bribe
(additional gift from a vendor): lagniappe

Related terms

gratis
gratuitous
gratuitously

Translations

reward provided freely, without obligation

Bulgarian: паричен подарък m (paričen podarǎk)
Dutch: fooi (nl) m or f
Esperanto: trinkmono
Finnish: juomaraha (fi)
German: Zuwendung (de) f, Geldgeschenk (de) n, Gratifikation (de) f

Hindi: उपदान (hi) m (updān)
Latin: dōnātīvum n
Persian: انعام‎ (fa) (an'ām), شتل‎ (fa) (šatal)
Russian: бонус (ru) m (bonus)
Spanish: dádiva (es)

service charge

Bulgarian: бакшиш (bg) m (bakšiš)
Finnish: juomaraha (fi)

German: Vergütung (de) f
Russian: бакшиш (ru) m (bakšiš)