gratuitous

English

Etymology

From Latin grātuītus (“free”), from Latin grātia (“favor”), grātus (“showing favor”).

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ɡɹəˈtjuː.ɪt.əs/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ɡɹəˈtu.ɪt.əs/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Adjective

gratuitous (comparative more gratuitous, superlative most gratuitous)

  1. Given freely; unearned.
    • 2023 January 11, Stephen Roberts, “Bradshaw's Britain: castles and cathedrals”, in RAIL, number 974, page 56:
      Also mentioned is the Rev. T. Stock, who has a tablet in St John's church [Gloucester] and "who with Raikes established the four original Sunday schools in this parish ... in 1780. From this small beginning sprung that gratuitous system of Christian instruction which has covered the face of England and Wales with schools."
  2. Unjustified or unnecessary; not called for by the circumstances.
    gratuitous violence
    Synonym: uncalled-for

Synonyms

(given freely):

(not called for by the circumstances):

Antonyms

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading
  • gratuitous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • gratuitous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
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