English Dictionary

GRATUITOUS

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does gratuitous mean? 

GRATUITOUS (adjective)
  The adjective GRATUITOUS has 3 senses:

1. without causeplay

2. costing nothingplay

3. unnecessary and unwarrantedplay

  Familiarity information: GRATUITOUS used as an adjective is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


GRATUITOUS (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Without cause

Context example:

a gratuitous insult

Similar:

unmerited (not merited or deserved)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Costing nothing

Synonyms:

complimentary; costless; free; gratis; gratuitous

Context example:

free admission

Similar:

unpaid (not paid)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Unnecessary and unwarranted

Synonyms:

gratuitous; needless; uncalled-for

Context example:

a strikers' tent camp...was burned with needless loss of life

Similar:

unnecessary; unneeded (not necessary)


 Context examples 


My private opinion is, that this was entirely a gratuitous assumption, and that Pidger was altogether innocent of any such sentiments—to which he had never given any sort of expression that I could ever hear of.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"If you were born to be shot, you'll never be hung." (English proverb)

"Who has no heart, has no heels." (Albanian proverb)

"First think, then speak." (Armenian proverb)

"May problems with neighbors last only as long as snow in March." (Corsican proverb)



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