perfunctory

American  

[per-fuhngk-tuh-ree] / pərˈfʌŋk tə ri /

adjective

1. performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial.

   perfunctory courtesy.

   Synonyms:

   uninterested, thoughtless, heedless, negligent

   Antonyms:

   diligent, careful

2. lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic.

   In his lectures he reveals himself to be merely a perfunctory speaker.

   Synonyms:

   uninterested, thoughtless, heedless, negligent

   Antonyms:

   diligent, careful

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perfunctory British  

/ pəˈfʌŋktərɪ /

adjective

1. done superficially, only as a matter of routine; careless or cursory

2. dull or indifferent

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Other Word Forms

• perfunctorily adverb
• perfunctoriness noun

Etymology

Origin of perfunctory

1575–85; < Late Latin perfūnctōrius negligent, superficial, derivative of perfungī to do one's job, be done, equivalent to per- per- + fung-, base of fungī to perform, function + -tōrius -tory ¹

Example Sentences

“This constellation of foreign investment from China and from Gulf States, with complex and sometimes competing relationships with the United States, demands rigorous, not perfunctory review,” Booker and the others wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms. Campbell, never the most beguiling actress, has appeared in every entry except “Scream VI” and gives another perfunctory performance.

From The Wall Street Journal

As I visited congressional offices this week, meeting with sources and watching members of Congress interact with their constituents, it felt perfunctory — and, in some cases, sad.

From Salon

What surprised me at the time was how homogeneous board discussions and decisions were, with votes often being unanimous and seemingly perfunctory.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is preceded by musings that perhaps a king shouldn’t have the absolute powers he does—which felt like a perfunctory contemporary allusion.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cursory
• offhand
• sketchy
• superficial