Gratuitous (8)
I believe the answer is:
needless
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">gratuitous</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(gratuitous can mean needless or uncalled for)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for needless that I've seen before include "Unneccessary and unwarranted" , "Lessened, being without good cause" , "Otiose" , "Superfluous" , "Surplus to requirements" .)