Definition of GRATUITOUS (original) (raw)
1
: not called for by the circumstances : not necessary, appropriate, or justified : unwarranted
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
Did you know?
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As Newman notes, the entire performance was gratuitous, since the customary domestic duties would have curtailed Mahler-Werfel’s composing anyway. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025 The Prime release should play great at any scale while its stars are crossed at one another, but miscalculates their chemistry in a gratuitous and slightly icky epilogue. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025 This sort of gratuitous and misleading language is designed to misrepresent the entire field of DEI, creating further division and anger. —Paolo Gaudiano, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025 The camera’s positioning and perspective are deliberate, leaving nothing gratuitous. —Ben Croll, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for gratuitous 
Word History
Etymology
Latin gratuitus, from gratus grateful
First Known Use
1617, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Time Traveler
The first known use of gratuitous was in 1617
Dictionary Entries Near gratuitous
Cite this Entry
“Gratuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gratuitous. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 9 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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