gratuitously

American  

[gruh-too-i-tuhs-lee, -tyoo-] / grəˈtu ɪ təs li, -ˈtju- /

adverb

1. without apparent reason, cause, or justification.

   The chase scene seems gratuitously thrown in for the sake of an action sequence.

2. without charge or payment; freely or voluntarily.

   Love is a spontaneous gift that cannot be earned—it is gratuitously given.

3. Law. without receiving any return value.

   The plaintiff must show that they will be forced to either hire someone to perform such household services or have someone perform them gratuitously.

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Other Word Forms

• nongratuitously
  adverb
• ungratuitously
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of gratuitously

gratuitous ( def. ) + -ly

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gratuitously

The rest of it – her status as “the enemy,” reviews that read to her as gratuitously nasty – doesn’t trouble her anymore.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 31, 2026

Another judge ruled that Ms Peggie was allowed to refer to Dr Upton as a man throughout the tribunal, as long as it was not done "offensively" or "gratuitously".

From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2025

Yet her chronic issue is that she complains gratuitously, stacking her gripes into a wall so that even the people who want to help — a doctor, a dentist — give up.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2025

It seems unlikely that, after gratuitously permitting Evnen to perpetuate his plot for months, the Nebraska Supreme Court would allow such a prosecution.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2024

Not only did he miss the opportunity to disown the offensive characterization of Burr; he raised the rhetorical stakes with his dismissive tone and gratuitously defiant counterthreat.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

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