gratuitous

[gruh-too-i-tuhs, -tyoo-]

adjective

1. being without apparent reason, cause, or justification.

   It looks to me like a baseless and gratuitous insult—like you have a huge chip on your shoulder.

   Synonyms: gratis, groundless, unreasonable, redundant, superfluous, unnecessary

2. given, done, bestowed, or obtained without charge or payment; free; complimentary.

3. Law.,  given without receiving any return value.

gratuitous

/ ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs /

adjective

1. given or received without payment or obligation

2. without cause; unjustified

3. law given or made without receiving any value in return

   a gratuitous agreement

Other Word Forms

• gratuitousness noun
• gratuitously adverb
• nongratuitous adjective
• nongratuitousness noun
• ungratuitous adjective
• ungratuitousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gratuitous¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin grātuītus “free, freely given, spontaneous,” derivative of grātus “thankful, received with thanks” (for formation fortuitous ); -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of gratuitous¹

C17: from Latin grātuītus, from grātia favour

Example Sentences

Wilson's commitment to honesty - sometimes shocking, but never gratuitous - remains intact in Picture Imperfect.

From BBC

With a wink and a flick of her ponytail, Sue and six other dancers — all sporting shiny, one-piece leotards with gratuitous cutouts — begin to gyrate, thrust, and squat to throbbing electronic music.

From Salon

“Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight” doesn’t contain the gratuitous violence you often see in films about racism.

From Los Angeles Times

The first is, “Do we, the viewer, receive gratuitous shark shots?”

From Salon

It accused the BBC of being motivated by malice and sensationalising its broadcast with a "gratuitous" reference to Mr Adams to boost ratings.

From BBC

Related Words

• baseless 
• groundless 
• needless 
• superfluous 
• unfounded 
• unjustified 
• unprovoked 
• unwarranted 
• wanton