gratuity

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

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

gratuity (plural gratuities)

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

• (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

• gratis
• gratuitous
• gratuitously

• gratuity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• gratuity in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.