Gratuitous
Unnecessary or unwarranted; done without good reason; also, provided or given free of charge.
adjectiveGratuitous
Unnecessary or unwarranted; done without good reason; also, provided or given free of charge.
adjectiveImagine This
Picture a movie poster that screams 'Gratuitous Violence' with nonstop explosions that exist only to shock, not to advance the plot.
Sounds Like
gruh-TOO-i-tuhs
Looks Like
Related to gratis/free; shares the root with gratis and gratitude.
Remember This
Gratuitous comes from Latin gratuitus meaning free or given freely; in modern usage it often means uncalled-for or excessive rather than simply free of charge.
Other Forms
Connect With
unnecessary, unwarranted, superfluous, needless, extraneous
Note
Do not confuse with gratis (free of charge). In everyday usage, gratuitous almost always implies something unwarranted or excessive, especially in contexts like violence or commentary.