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" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, the New York Times, the Newsday, The Times, The Telegraph and the Irish Times (Simplex).

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