gratuitous
/ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡrəˈtuːɪtəs/ (ame, ipa) · /grə-ˈtü-ə-təs -ˈtyü-/ (ame, mw)
gratuitous — adjective
- gratuitouspositive
- more gratuitouscomparative
- most gratuitoussuperlative
1. added or shown when there is no real need, often something unpleasant such as vi
added or shown when there is no real need, often something unpleasant such as violence, cruelty, or rude remarks, which makes people feel it serves no purpose.
Many parents complained about the gratuitous violence in the late-night cartoon.
gratuitous + noun (typical with violence)
The film critic praised the director for cutting the gratuitous scenes of cruelty toward animals.
gratuitous + noun (cruelty)
Trang found the manager's gratuitous comments about her accent both rude and hurtful.
There was no need for such a gratuitous insult during the school board meeting.
Critics felt the novel's long battle chapter was a gratuitous display of suffering.
- unwarranted
very close in meaning; slightly more formal and more often used about decisions or attacks
- uncalled-for
more conversational; typical of rude comments or behaviour
- needless
wider scope; not always negative in tone
文法句型
gratuitous + noun
用法筆記
Almost always before a noun and almost always negative — typical nouns are violence, sex, cruelty, insult, comments, swearing. Distinguish from sense 2, which is a neutral formal/legal sense about something given for free.
常見錯誤
2. given or done as a favour, with nothing expected in return — for example, a gift
given or done as a favour, with nothing expected in return — for example, a gift made under a contract or a service offered with no fee.
Under the will, the cottage was left to Kemi as a gratuitous transfer.
legal collocation: gratuitous transfer
The lawyer said the loan was a gratuitous promise, so the court could not enforce it.
gratuitous promise (contract-law term)
Padma agreed to give the neighbours gratuitous legal advice about their landlord.
The temple accepted the painting as a gratuitous gift from the artist's family.
- free
everyday word; 'gratuitous' is the formal counterpart in contracts
- complimentary
service register — used about something a business gives without charge
- voluntary
stresses the giver's choice rather than the lack of payment
文法句型
gratuitous + noun
用法筆記
Mostly used in legal, financial, or contract-related writing; rarely heard in everyday conversation. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense has no negative tone and refers to 'free of charge', not 'uncalled for'.