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gratuitous
[ gruh-too-i-tuhs, -tyoo- ]
/ grəˈtu ɪ təs, -ˈtyu- /
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adjective
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.
given, done, bestowed, or obtained without charge or payment; free; complimentary.
Law. given without receiving any return value.
OTHER WORDS FOR gratuitous
1 unnecessary, superfluous, redundant; causeless, unreasonable, groundless, unprovoked, unjustified.
2 gratis.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of gratuitous
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin grātuītus “free, freely given, spontaneous,” derivative of grātus “thankful, received with thanks” (for formation cf. fortuitous); see -ous
OTHER WORDS FROM gratuitous
Words nearby gratuitous
grating, gratis, gratitude, Grattan, grattoir, gratuitous, gratuitous contract, gratuitously, gratuity, gratulant, gratulate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use gratuitous in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for gratuitous
gratuitous
/ (ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs) /
adjective
given or received without payment or obligation
without cause; unjustified
law given or made without receiving any value in returna gratuitous agreement
Derived forms of gratuitous
gratuitously, adverbgratuitousness, nounWord Origin for gratuitous
C17: from Latin grātuītus, from grātia favour
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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