# gratuitous

/ɡɹəˈtuətəs/ (US) · /ɡɹætjˈuːɪtəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gratuitous
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.