Gratuitous - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Gratuitous means unnecessary or uncalled for, often referring to something excessive or done without good reason, such as violence in a movie or an unwarranted insult.
Definition:
Unnecessary, uncalled for, or given without justification.
Synonyms:
Unwarranted, unjustified, superfluous, needless, excessive
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
Necessary, justified
Common Collocations:
gratuitous violence, gratuitous insult, gratuitous remark
Derivatives:
gratuitously, gratuitousness
Usage Tips:
Use "gratuitous" to describe something excessive or unnecessary, often negatively.
Common Phrases:
gratuitous violence, gratuitous display, gratuitous comment
Etymology:
From Latin "gratuitus," meaning "given freely," from "gratia" (favor).
Examples:
- 1. The movie included gratuitous scenes of violence that added nothing to the plot.
- 2. Her criticism felt gratuitous and hurtful rather than constructive.
- 3. He made a gratuitous remark about her appearance for no reason.
- 4. The article was filled with gratuitous details that distracted from the main point.
- 5. Politicians often make gratuitous promises during election campaigns just to win votes.