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perfunctory

[ per-fuhngk-tuh-ree ]
/ pərˈfʌŋk tə ri /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR perfunctory ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial: perfunctory courtesy.
lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic: In his lectures he reveals himself to be merely a perfunctory speaker.

Words related to perfunctory

sketchy, cursory, superficial, offhand, apathetic, careless, cool, disinterested, heedless, impersonal, inattentive, indifferent, involuntary, lackadaisical, laid-back, mechanical, negligent, routine, slipshod, slovenly

Words nearby perfunctory

performing, performing arts, perfume, perfumer, perfumery, perfunctory, perfusate, perfuse, perfusion, pergamum, pergelisol

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 -tory1

OTHER WORDS FROM perfunctory

per·func·to·ri·ly, adverbper·func·to·ri·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for perfunctory

British Dictionary definitions for perfunctory

perfunctory
/ (pəˈfʌŋktərɪ) /

adjective

done superficially, only as a matter of routine; careless or cursory
dull or indifferent

Derived forms of perfunctory

perfunctorily, adverbperfunctoriness, noun

Word Origin for perfunctory

C16: from Late Latin perfunctōrius negligent, from perfunctus dispatched, from perfungī to fulfil; see function
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012