gratuitous
/ɡɹəˈtjuː.ɪt.əs/
Group 30Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted; given or done free of charge GRE
Example in Context
Critics accused the director of including gratuitous violence that added nothing to the film's narrative or thematic content.
Synonyms
unnecessaryuncalled forunjustified
Etymology
Given freely but often undesired or excessive — like unsolicited advice.
- grat (Latin) — pleasing
- uit (Latin) — to give
Memory Aid
💵Sounds like “gratuity us”
A waiter yelling 'GRATUITY US!' for a tip after serving you a meal no one wanted!
Visual Association
🚫A person receiving a giant trophy for doing absolutely nothing — completely uncalled for!
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “gratuitous” mean on the GRE?
gratuitous (adjective) means “Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted; given or done free of charge”. Critics accused the director of including gratuitous violence that added nothing to the film's narrative or thematic content.
How to remember “gratuitous” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “gratuitous” sounds like “gratuity us”. A waiter yelling 'GRATUITY US!' for a tip after serving you a meal no one wanted!
What are synonyms for “gratuitous”?
Common synonyms: unnecessary, uncalled for, unjustified.