Word
gratuitous
Phoneticsgra·tu·itous
US/ɡɹəˈtuətəs/
UK/ɡɹætjˈuːɪtəs/
Definition
adj. done without any good reason or purpose. You use this to describe something that is unnecessary or just added to make a situation more shocking or exciting.
adj. done without necessity, justification, or reason; excessive or superfluous. Often carries a negative connotation of being unnecessary or intended to provoke.
Examples
“The movie includes some gratuitous violence that serves no plot purpose.”
“The politician's comments were seen as gratuitous, as they were designed to offend his opponents rather than inform the public.”
“The author's use of gratuitous descriptions of the setting often distracts the reader from the subtle character development that defines the novel's emotional core.”
Examples
simple
“The movie includes some gratuitous violence that serves no plot purpose.”
contextual
“The politician's comments were seen as gratuitous, as they were designed to offend his opponents rather than inform the public.”
complex
“The author's use of gratuitous descriptions of the setting often distracts the reader from the subtle character development that defines the novel's emotional core.”
Real-World Examples
“He went back to the review and noticed that, indeed, it contained hallmarks of AI-generated text, such as the gratuitous use of em dashes.” “You will most certainly have spotted the gratuitous gratitude expressed by host and guest to each other.” Etymology
From Latin grātuītus (“free”), from Latin grātia (“favor”), grātus (“showing favor”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/gratuitous