gratuitously
Meaning: Without good reason or justification; unnecessarily, especially in a way that causes offence or harm. Also: without charge or payment.
Gratuitously has two distinct senses that can cause confusion. The dominant modern usage means 'unnecessarily, without justification' — gratuitous violence, gratuitous insults, gratuitous complexity. The older sense of 'free of charge' survives mainly in legal and formal contexts (services provided gratuitously). In media criticism, it is one of the most common terms for condemning unnecessary violence or explicit content in film, television, and literature.
Examples
- The film was criticised for its gratuitously violent scenes, which added nothing to the narrative. 该电影因暴力场景过度渲染且对叙事毫无贡献而受到批评。La película fue criticada por sus escenas de violencia gratuita, que no aportaban nada a la narrativa.その映画は物語に何も加えない不必要に暴力的なシーンがあると批判された。그 영화는 서사에 아무런 기여도 하지 않는 불필요하게 폭력적인 장면들로 비판을 받았다.
- He gratuitously insulted the witness, prompting the judge to issue a formal reprimand. 他无端侮辱了证人,引发法官发出正式警告。Insultó gratuitamente al testigo, lo que llevó al juez a emitir una amonestación formal.彼は証人を理由なく侮辱し、裁判官から正式な戒告を受けた。그는 증인을 까닭 없이 모욕하여 판사로부터 공식 견책을 받았다.
- The report included gratuitously technical language that obscured rather than illuminated the findings. 报告中使用了不必要的专业术语,使研究结果变得晦涩难懂。El informe incluía un lenguaje técnico gratuito que oscurecía en lugar de iluminar los hallazgos.報告書には不必要に専門的な用語が含まれており、結果を明らかにするどころか曖昧にしていた。보고서에는 불필요하게 전문적인 용어가 포함되어 있어 결과를 밝히기보다 오히려 모호하게 만들었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: journalism, legal, arts
Tone: critical
Origin & History
From Latin gratuitus (freely given, spontaneous), from gratus (pleasing, thankful). The shift from 'freely given' to 'without justification' occurred gradually in English from the 17th century onwards.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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