perfunctory

[ per-fuhngk-tuh-ree ]

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

perfunctory

/ pəˈfʌŋktərɪ /

adjective

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

Derived Forms

• perˈfunctorily, adverb
• perˈfunctoriness, noun

Other Words From

• per·functo·ri·ly adverb
• per·functo·ri·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of perfunctory¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of perfunctory¹

C16: from Late Latin perfunctōrius negligent, from perfunctus dispatched, from perfungī to fulfil; see function

Example Sentences

Watching the one Black family in the entire house’s history spend two minutes telling their son how to interact with the police comes off as perfunctory, particularly since the movie never deals with the history of restrictive covenants which, no doubt, would have prohibited Black families from even owning the house we’re seeing in the 1940s.

From Salon

The scenes with Johnny and his buddies are handled in a perfunctory manner that made it hard for me to invest in their plights or paths.

From Los Angeles Times

But Oprah Winfrey coaxed that out of her first, which offers a hint as to why Cooper's style resulted in a dialogue that didn't feel like a perfunctory performance.

From Salon

In some ways, though, the response to Trump’s miracle seemed almost perfunctory.

From Slate

During the roughly half hour of the session open to reporters, players ran through drills in a perfunctory manner.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cursory
• offhand
• sketchy
• superficial