adj · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ɡɹəˈtjuː.ɪt.əs/
US:/ɡɹəˈtu.ɪt.əs/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:G R AH0 T UW1 AH0 T AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Given freely; unearned.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Unjustified or unnecessary; not called for by the circumstances.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
gratuitous violence
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: uncalled-for
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
extraneous, interpolated.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
without cause
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a gratuitous insult
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
unnecessary and unwarranted
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a strikers' tent camp...was burned with needless loss of life