YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

gratuitous

Adjective

IPA /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Unnecessary and lacking a good reason, especially when an action or remark causes harm, offence or discomfort.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

gratuitous/ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea

A conversation has a clear purpose
Someone adds an unnecessary insult
The remark causes needless hurt

A gratuitous insult has no good reason and causes avoidable offence.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

His gratuitous insult turned a friendly chat into an argument.
The editor removed the article's gratuitous attack on a rival researcher.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

His ________ insult turned a friendly chat into an argument.

Show the answer

gratuitous — Unnecessary and lacking a good reason, especially when an action or remark causes harm, offence or discomfort.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “gratuitous” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Unnecessary and lacking a good reason, especially when an action or remark causes harm, offence or discomfort.

Compare: His gratuitous insult turned a friendly chat into an argument.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From Latin gratuitus, meaning freely given, with the ending -ous.

Did you know?

Gratuitous violence describes violent content that seems unnecessary for its purpose or context.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.