cursory
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cursory
1595–1605; < Late Latin cursōrius running, equivalent to Latin cur ( rere ) to run + -sōrius, for -tōrius -tory 1; cf. course
Explanation
No reason to get excited — cursory has nothing to do with bad language. Instead, it means not paying attention to details, like friends who are so busy studying for a test that they only give your new haircut a cursory glance. Cursory dates to the early 17th century, from the French word cursoire meaning "rapid," which comes from the Latin word cursorius, meaning "hasty, of a race or running." Something that is cursory is done quickly. A teacher might take a cursory look at a pile of completed tests, not to grade them, but to see if anyone attempted the bonus questions.
Vocabulary lists containing cursory
Grade 12, List 1
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Make a Run for It: Cur, Curs
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100 SAT words Beginning with "C"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“This cursory treatment reflects poorly on the administration of justice in the Court of Appeal, and will be rectified by a petition to the California Supreme Court.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
By the time a fourth package arrives—this one for Judith—the reader has likely identified the killer, and the novel’s finale seems like a cursory flourish.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Like any cheap knock-off, with Vance the ruse becomes clear at even a cursory examination.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
Anyone taking a cursory glance at Monday’s market may conclude it was a dull day.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
He went to a doctor and requested a cursory, nonintrusive examination, but was told that only a blood test would enable the doctor to evaluate his kidney function.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
