gratuitous = free

[Freeguy]

I can see that many dictionaries choose the word "free" as a synonym for the word "gratuitous. However, The definition for the latter would be : Said or done without a good reason, in a way that offends someone. As you see, it has nothing to do with being FREE. How can I justify this definition to "gratis" or "free".

Thanks

 

[bhaisahab]

I can see that many dictionaries choose the word "free" as a synonym for the word "gratuitous. However, The definition for the latter would be : Said or done without a good reason, in a way that offends someone. As you see, it has nothing to do with being FREE. How can I justify this definition to "gratis" or "free".

Thanks

Which dictionaries?

 

[MikeNewYork]

I can see that many dictionaries choose the word "free" as a synonym for the word "gratuitous. However, The definition for the latter would be : Said or done without a good reason, in a way that offends someone. As you see, it has nothing to do with being FREE. How can I justify this definition to "gratis" or "free".

Thanks

Yes, gratuitous has that definition, but I hardly ever see or hear of it used that way except in legal matters. I would not use the word for "free" in other contexts.

See here: gratuitous - definition of gratuitous by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

 

[Freeguy]

Gratuitous Synonyms, Gratuitous Antonyms | Thesaurus.com

Gratuitous - Synonyms and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

They say: Free=gratuitous

 

[5jj]

Free and gratuitous are near synonyms in some contexts. They are not synonyms in many contexts.

 

[Rover_KE]

Whatever dictionaries say, most native speakers take gratuitous to mean unnecessary.

I advise you to forget that it may sometimes mean free.

 

[Tdol]

Gratuitous Synonyms, Gratuitous Antonyms | Thesaurus.com

Gratuitous - Synonyms and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

They say: Free=gratuitous

Take thesauruses with a pinch of salt- they often clump words together that are vaguely related as if they were synonyms.