Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

ex-gratia

Adjective

/ɛksˈɡreɪ.ʃə/

Definition

A Latin term meaning ‘by favor’ or ‘out of goodwill’, used to refer to a payment made voluntarily and without any legal obligation.

Examples

The company offered an ex-gratia payment to employees affected by the recent layoffs.
She received an ex-gratia benefit for her outstanding contributions to the project.
The organization decided to provide ex-gratia compensation to victims of the disaster.

Meaning

The term ‘ex-gratia’ is often used in legal and financial contexts to describe a payment or gift given as a courtesy, rather than as a requirement or obligation. It signifies that the giver is under no compulsion to make the payment and does so out of kindness or as a goodwill gesture.