Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Done or given as a favor, without legal obligation: An "ex gratia" action or payment is made voluntarily, out of goodwill or a sense of moral duty, rather than because it is required by law or contract.

Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in formal, legal, or business contexts to describe payments or settlements offered without admission of liability.
• It is typically placed before a noun (e.g., ) or used predicatively (e.g., ).

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The company made an ex gratia payment to the affected customers, even though it was not legally required to do so.
  • The compensation was offered on an ex gratia basis as a gesture of goodwill.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Context: In law, an "ex gratia" payment is significant because it is made without prejudice, meaning it does not constitute an admission of legal liability or fault. This allows an organization to provide compensation while protecting its legal position.
  • The government issued an ex gratia payment to the victims' families, explicitly stating it did not imply responsibility for the incident.

Variants and Related Words

• Goodwill payment: A more common, non-legal term for a similar voluntary payment.
• : A related legal phrase often used in conjunction with "ex gratia" offers to protect the offeror's legal rights.

Synonyms

• Voluntary: Done, given, or acting of one's own free will.
• Discretionary: Available for use at the discretion of the user; not obligatory.
• Goodwill gesture: An action intended to express benevolence or improve relations.

Antonyms

• Compulsory: Required by law or a rule; obligatory.
• Mandatory: Required by law or rules; compulsory.
• Liable: Legally responsible.

Related Phrases

• Ex gratia payment: The most common collocation, referring to the money paid voluntarily.
  • The bank provided an ex gratia payment to compensate for the system error.
• On an ex gratia basis: A phrase describing the manner in which something is provided.
  • The scholarship was awarded on an ex gratia basis by the university's alumni association.

Adjective

1. as a favor; not compelled by legal right
   • ex gratia payments made to nonstriking workers