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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

gratuity en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ɡɹəˈtjuːətɪ/ (UK)
  • (US) audio
  • (US) audio
  • /ɡɹəˈtuːətɪ/ (US)

Etymology

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

Meanings

  1. An additional payment given freely as thanks for service.
    • The company gave each employee a retirement gratuity.
    • The waiter received a generous gratuity.
    • leave with a gratuity
    • service gratuity
    • cash gratuity
  2. (euphemistic, form-of) Euphemistic form of fee, in contexts where such additional payments have been made obligatory.
    form of fee
    • Restaurants in places such as Kansas City, Atlanta and Philadelphia have begun adding automatic 20% gratuities to checks, during the tournament, according to industry groups and restaurant operators. 2026 June 20, Trista Panagakos, Jeanne Erickson, “World Cup tourists aren't leaving tips — and NYC restaurants are fighting back”, in NY Post:
  3. (euphemistic, form-of) Euphemistic form of bribe.
    form of bribe

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
gratuities Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

autogratuity · autograt

Relateds

gratis · gratuitous · gratuitously

Synonyms

donative · boon · coffee money · douceur · service charge · tea money · present · gift · grant · concession · bribe · payoff · pourboire · fairing · benefaction · douceur · douceur · backhander · tithing · tip · kopi money · perquisite · grace · baksheesh · dash · pay-off · subornation · inducement · cumshaw · payola · cold drink money · sweetener · tip · bung

Translations (32)

es gratificación (reward provided freely, without obligation) · eo trinkmono (reward provided freely, without obligation) · de Zuwendung (reward provided freely, without obligation) · cs spropitné (reward provided freely, without obligation) · nl fooi (reward provided freely, without obligation) · bg паричен подарък (reward provided freely, without obligation) · cs dýško (reward provided freely, without obligation) · pl napiwek (reward provided freely, without obligation) · ru бонус (reward provided freely, without obligation) · la dōnātīvum (reward provided freely, without obligation) · es dádiva (reward provided freely, without obligation) · fa شتل (reward provided freely, without obligation) · it mancia (reward provided freely, without obligation) · ota مارده (reward provided freely, without obligation) · es propina (reward provided freely, without obligation) · de Gratifikation (reward provided freely, without obligation) · hu borravaló (reward provided freely, without obligation) · ro bacșiș (reward provided freely, without obligation) · hi उपदान (reward provided freely, without obligation) · cs diškrece (reward provided freely, without obligation) · es llapa (reward provided freely, without obligation) · es yapa (reward provided freely, without obligation) · uk чайові́ (reward provided freely, without obligation) · fa انعام (reward provided freely, without obligation) · et jootraha (reward provided freely, without obligation) · es ipegüe (reward provided freely, without obligation) · hu hálapénz (reward provided freely, without obligation) · es ñapa (reward provided freely, without obligation) · pt gorjeta (reward provided freely, without obligation) · de Geldgeschenk (reward provided freely, without obligation) · fi juomaraha (reward provided freely, without obligation) · fr pourboire (reward provided freely, without obligation)