gratuity
- noun
- /ɡrəˈtuːɪti/
- Proof of service is required, and beverages and gratuity are not included.
- receive gratuities
I mean, seriously, a gratuity tipping culture is already out of control.
- I mean, seriously, a gratuity tipping culture is already out of control.
Examples
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In my opinion, there should be an 18% gratuity added to everyone's check, every time, no matter what.
Blog text (9) -
And if you want your server to get the entire gratuity, it's best to leave it in cash.
Blog text (23) -
Look, whatever amount you made last night, I'll pay you with a 15% gratuity, all right?
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A common restaurant menu example is "15% gratuity will be charged for parties of 6 or more."
Blog text (33) -
The cost of the trip is $40, which includes transportation, a gratuity for the driver, and the museum entry fee.
Blog text (12) -
I'd like to give these generous men a gratuity.
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My client gave him the $50,000 as a belated gratuity.
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I'm sorry, madam, we don't accept gratuities in the UK.
Fiction book (1998) -
Subjects and caregivers were given a cash gratuity for participating in each interview (i.e., children - $15, caregivers - $20).
Academic text (1994) -
After the excellent service, I decided to leave a gratuity of 20% on the bill as a thank you.
Synonyms
A small amount of money given for a service
A small amount of money given to someone for help or to get faster service
A small amount of money you leave to thank someone for a service, like a waiter
A small extra amount of money given to someone as a tip, often in South Asia
A small tip given to someone for good service
A small amount of money given as a tip for service, often in Middle Eastern or South Asian countries
How Much
Surface Forms
Morphology
gratuity = gratu + ity
The noun is historically built from a Latin root meaning 'favor/thanks' plus the noun-forming suffix -ity; the connection to 'thanks' (e.g., gratitude) exists but the stem 'gratu-' is not a productive or standalone English base, so the meaning is only partially transparent to learners.
Etymology
The word gratuity comes from the Latin word gratia, which means 'thanks' or 'a favour', and is the same root as gratitude. So a gratuity is like a small 'thank-you' gift or extra payment you give for good service.