Gratuitous (8)
I believe the answer is:
needless
'gratuitous' is the definition.
(gratuitous can mean needless or uncalled for)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for needless that I've seen before include "Unneccessary and unwarranted" , "Lessened, being without good cause" , "Otiose" , "Superfluous" , "Surplus to requirements" .)