gratuitous

adjective

gra·​tu·​i·​tous grə-ˈtü-ə-təs 

-ˈtyü-

1

: not called for by the circumstances : not necessary, appropriate, or justified : unwarranted

a gratuitous insult

a gratuitous assumption

a movie criticized for gratuitous violence

2

a

: given unearned or without recompense

We mistake the gratuitous blessings of Heaven for the fruits of our own industry.

—Roger L'Estrange

b

: costing nothing : free

It was printed in France at the author's expense, for gratuitous distribution to educators and others.

—Current Biography

c

law : not involving a return benefit, compensation, or consideration

has gratuitous permission to pass over private land

gratuitously adverb

gratuitousness noun

Did you know?

These Gratuitous Facts Are Free

Like gratitude, grace, and congratulate, gratuitous is a descendant of the Latin word gratus, which means "pleasing" or "grateful." When gratuitous was first used in the 17th century, it meant "free" or "given without return benefit or compensation." The extended meaning "done without good reason" or "unwarranted" came about just a few decades later, perhaps from the belief held by some people that one should not give something without getting something in return. Today, that extended meaning is the more common sense, employed, for example, when graphic cruelty depicted in a work of fiction is described as "gratuitous violence," or when unkind words better left unsaid are described as "a gratuitous insult."

Synonyms

• free
• optional
• complimentary
• costless

Examples of gratuitous in a Sentence

The film was criticized for its gratuitous violence.

A local veterinary technician provides gratuitous services to the animal shelter twice a month.

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s clearly some darkness beneath the surface, but Dispatch doesn’t seem interested in interrogating its premise in the same gratuitous ways shows like Invincible and The Boys are. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025

What’s more, the gratuitous is its very subject. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025

Enabled by that silly and gratuitous reprieve and Young’s offside on a third-and-5 later in the drive, Alabama promptly tied it and rattled off 17 straight points on the way to a 27-24 victory. —Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2025

This horrible, gratuitous writing. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin gratuitus, from gratus grateful

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for gratuitous

• circuitous
• fortuitous

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Kids Definition

gratuitous

adjective

gra·​tu·​i·​tous

grə-ˈt(y)ü-ət-əs

1

: done or provided freely with nothing expected in return

2

: not called for by the circumstances : unwarranted

a gratuitous insult

gratuitously adverb

gratuitousness noun

Legal Definition

gratuitous

adjective

gra·​tu·​i·​tous grə-ˈtü-ə-təs, -ˈtyü- 

: not involving a return benefit, compensation, or consideration compare onerous

gratuitously adverb