gratuity
nounUK /ɡɹəˈtjuːətɪ/ · US /ɡɹəˈtuːətɪ/
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.
1
An additional payment given freely as thanks for service.
- service gratuity
- cash gratuity
3 more examples
- leave with a gratuity
- The waiter received a generous gratuity.
- The company gave each employee a retirement gratuity.
2
Euphemistic Euphemistic form of fee, in contexts where such additional payments have been made obligatory.
- 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 Euphemistic form of bribe.
- Derived terms
- autograt
- Related terms
- gratis, gratuitous, gratuitously