cursory

[kur-suh-ree]

adjective

1. going rapidly over something, without noticing details; hasty; superficial.

   a cursory glance at a newspaper article.

   Synonyms: haphazard, passing, brief, quick

cursory

/ ˈkɜːsərɪ /

adjective

1. hasty and usually superficial; quick

   a cursory check

Other Word Forms

• cursorily adverb
• cursoriness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cursory¹

1595–1605; < Late Latin cursōrius running, equivalent to Latin cur ( rere ) to run + -sōrius, for -tōrius -tory ¹; course

Word History and Origins

Origin of cursory¹

C17: from Late Latin cursōrius of running, from Latin cursus a course, from currere to run

Example Sentences

But they take a cursory approach to the issue, devoting less than a page to it.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Even a cursory glance at a map shows where the problems begin.

Read more on BBC

But by and large, if you made even a cursory effort at keeping up with TV this year, you’ll know the winners already.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When Biden finally spoke to the nation to explain his abdication and anointment of Harris as his chosen successor, Harris notes he waited nearly nine minutes into an 11-minute address to offer his cursory blessing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The 2025-26 Premier League season is barely a game old but, for Sunderland fans, the embryonic table merits more than just a cursory glance.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• desultory 
• offhand 
• perfunctory 
• random 
• sketchy 
• superficial