gratuity
noun
gra·tu·i·ty
grə-ˈtü-ə-tē 
-ˈtyü-
plural gratuities
: something given voluntarily or beyond obligation usually for some service
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Gratuity vs. Tip
Gratuity is a fancier and more formal word than tip. It occurs most often in written notices along the lines of "Gratuities accepted". Its formality makes it best suited for describing tips of the dignified, expensive variety. For the taxi driver who takes you to the superb Belgian restaurant, it's a tip; for the restaurant's maitre d', it's a gratuity.
Examples of gratuity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dine Out Lauderdale, Broward County’s recipe for recharging restaurants through the slow summer slump, returns Aug. 1-Sept. 30 with 137 (and counting) eateries selling multi-course lunches and dinners for $35 to $75, minus tax and gratuity.
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Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 25 July 2025
For example, the definition may exclude mandatory service fees, such as an automatic gratuity a restaurant might tack on for a large dining party.
—Ana Teresa Solá,kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 18 July 2025
Automatic gratuity or service charges may only be included for parties with six or more guests.
—Ashley J. Dimella Fox News, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2025
Initially offering to split it three ways due to an automatic gratuity policy for large parties, Stewart was met with increasingly unreasonable requests, culminating in a demand for nine individual checks.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratuity
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Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 25 July 2025
For example, the definition may exclude mandatory service fees, such as an automatic gratuity a restaurant might tack on for a large dining party.
—Ana Teresa Solá,kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 18 July 2025
Automatic gratuity or service charges may only be included for parties with six or more guests.
—Ashley J. Dimella Fox News, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2025
Initially offering to split it three ways due to an automatic gratuity policy for large parties, Stewart was met with increasingly unreasonable requests, culminating in a demand for nine individual checks.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratuity
Cite this Entry
“Gratuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gratuity. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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