gratuitous Definition
- 1uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted
- 2given or done free of charge
Using gratuitous: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "gratuitous" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The violence in the movie was gratuitous and unnecessary.
Example
He made a gratuitous comment about her appearance.
Example
The company offered a gratuitous discount to its loyal customers.
gratuitous Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for gratuitous
- unjustified
- unwarranted
- undeserved
- unmerited
- uncalled-for
Phrases with gratuitous
violence in a movie, TV show, or other media that is unnecessary to the plot or character development
Example
The movie was criticized for its gratuitous violence.
an insult that is uncalled for and lacks good reason
Example
He made a gratuitous insult about her intelligence.
nudity in a movie, TV show, or other media that is unnecessary to the plot or character development
Example
The movie was criticized for its gratuitous nudity.
Origins of gratuitous
from Latin 'gratuitus', meaning 'freely given'
Summary: gratuitous in Brief
The term 'gratuitous' [ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs] refers to something that is uncalled for or lacking good reason. It can describe anything from comments to violence, as in 'The violence in the movie was gratuitous and unnecessary.' 'Gratuitous' can also mean 'given or done free of charge,' as in 'The company offered a gratuitous discount to its loyal customers.'