gratuitous
Americanadjective
-
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
-
given, done, bestowed, or obtained without charge or payment; free; complimentary.
-
Law. given without receiving any return value.
adjective
-
given or received without payment or obligation
-
without cause; unjustified
-
law given or made without receiving any value in return
a gratuitous agreement
Other Word Forms
Etymology
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
Explanation
Gratuitous means "without cause" or "unnecessary." Telling ridiculous jokes at a somber occasion would be a display of gratuitous humor. Gratuitous can be used to refer to something that’s unnecessary and mildly annoying. If a friend frequently gives you fashion tips, even though you’ve expressed no interest in receiving them, you’d be correct in labeling her advice as gratuitous. In addition, gratuitous can be used to indicate that something is not only unnecessary but also inappropriate. Some people claim that some films and video games contain gratuitous violence — that is, violence that is excessive and offensive.
Vocabulary lists containing gratuitous
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Advanced English Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Grade 12, List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"You show too much, and it's gratuitous, and nobody's gonna watch, and you want to be effective in telling the truth. You show too little, and it's not real," she said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
What we see isn’t gratuitous government cruelty, chaos or vengeance.
From Salon ● May 28, 2026
He said their occupation of the guardhouse would have sufficed in causing disruption and the damage they caused was "gratuitous" and for "performance purposes only".
From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026
The weeks after Kirk was shot were marked by gratuitous consecrations of the man’s virtue.
From Slate ● Dec. 22, 2025
It is most curious to see that you have so much time on your hands that you are able to simply wander about this house bothering others with gratuitous comments.'
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
