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

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

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

From Los Angeles Times

He'll spend some time in Pennsylvania and Georgia and make some perfunctory stops in some of the other swing states just to keep it close enough to contest.

From Salon

The selfie represents one of the North’s few visible interactions with the outside world during the Games, including a perfunctory press conference by the two table-tennis stars.

From BBC

Related Words

• cursory
• offhand
• sketchy
• superficial