adverb / adjective
gratis
GRAT-is/ˈɡrætɪs/
Provided without payment.
The visitor takes a book gratis from the community table.
Etymology
The plural of gratia meant “thanks,” and the expression behind gratis meant “for thanks.” This became “without recompense”: thanks rather than payment were the return.
More examples
- Children received the tickets gratis.
- The offer included a gratis repair visit.
- She supplied the photographs gratis for the community project.
Forms
gratis
Similar words
- free
- Free is the ordinary term for no charge; gratis is more formal.
- complimentary
- Complimentary often describes something a business supplies free; gratis simply means without payment.