gratuitous

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

adjective

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

being without apparent reason, cause, or justification: a gratuitous insult.

Law. given without receiving any return value.

Origin of gratuitous

1650–60; < Latin grātuītus free, freely given, spontaneous, derivative of grātus thankful, received with thanks (for formation cf. fortuitous); see -ous

Related formsgra·tu·i·tous·ly, adverbgra·tu·i·tous·ness, nounnon·gra·tu·i·tous, adjectivenon·gra·tu·i·tous·ly, adverbnon·gra·tu·i·tous·ness, nounun·gra·tu·i·tous, adjectiveun·gra·tu·i·tous·ly, adverbun·gra·tu·i·tous·ness, noun

Can be confusedgracious gratis gratuitous

Synonyms for gratuitous

2. unnecessary, superfluous, redundant; causeless, unreasonable, groundless, unprovoked, unjustified.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for non-gratuitous

gratuitous

adjective

given or received without payment or obligation

without cause; unjustified

law given or made without receiving any value in returna gratuitous agreement

Derived Formsgratuitously, adverbgratuitousness, noun

Word 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for non-gratuitous

gratuitous

adj.

1650s, "freely bestowed," from Latin gratuitus "done without pay, spontaneous, voluntary," from gratus "pleasing, agreeable," from gratia "favor" (see grace). Sense of "uncalled for, done without good reason" is first recorded 1690s.