gratuit

Gratuit is a French adjective meaning free of charge, i.e., not requiring payment, or given without compensation. It is used to describe goods, services, or access that do not incur a cost, as in "un échantillon gratuit" or "l’entrée est gratuite." The term is commonly contrasted with "payant" or "à tarif." The related noun is la gratuité, which denotes the state or policy of being free, and the adverb is gratuitement, meaning without charge or for free.

Etymology and related forms: gratuit derives from Old French gratuit, from Latin gratuitus, itself linked to gratus or gratus meaning pleasing or pleasing by gift. The sense of generosity or a gift underpins the modern meaning of lacking payment. In broader language use, gratuit can also appear in the sense of gratuit, meaning unwarranted or unnecessary, especially in phrases like violence gratuite or commentaire gratuit, where it conveys something not justified or earned.

Usage contexts: In commerce and consumer contexts, gratuit is common in marketing and everyday speech to indicate no cost, e.g., "offre gratuite" or "service gratuit." In law and public policy, gratuité refers to free access to certain services, such as education or museums, though availability varies by country and policy. In cultural or media critique, gratuit meaning gratuitous describes actions or content that are excessive or unneeded, often with a negative connotation.

See also: antonyms include payant and coût, while related concepts include gratuité and gratuitement.