Perfunctory
— carried out without real interest feeling or effort; cursory
Perfunctory means carried out with minimal effort or interest, as a mere formality rather than with genuine care. It describes actions done mechanically, without thought or enthusiasm — just going through the motions.
A perfunctory handshake is limp and brief. A perfunctory inspection misses everything important. A perfunctory apology convinces no one. The word always implies that the person could have done better but simply did not care enough to try. It is the opposite of thorough, heartfelt, or diligent.
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Memory Mnemonic
PER FUN STORY
The keyword PER FUN STORY comes from how Perfunctory sounds when spoken aloud. This pronunciation connection makes it easy to recall the keyword whenever you hear or see the word.
Memory Link
He told a FUN STORY PER request but with zero enthusiasm—carried out without real interest, completely cursory!
Imagine someone who tells a FUN STORY PER your request — but with zero enthusiasm, zero energy, just flat monotone words delivered mechanically because he has to, not because he wants to. Visualise his bored face, his lifeless delivery, his obvious desire to just get it over with. That going-through-the-motions effort, that total lack of genuine interest, is perfunctory.
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Usage Examples
- The security guard gave the bags a perfunctory glance before waving everyone through.
- His perfunctory apology — a mumbled "sorry" without eye contact — only made things worse.
- The committee conducted a perfunctory review of the proposal and approved it in minutes.
- She offered a perfunctory smile to the guests before retreating to her office.
- The teacher's perfunctory feedback on the essays — just a grade and no comments — frustrated the students.
Etymology of Perfunctory
From Late Latin perfunctorius, meaning "careless" or "negligent," derived from perfungi (to get through with, to discharge), from per- (through) + fungi (to perform). The original Latin sense was of getting something done and out of the way — performing a duty just enough to say it was done, without genuine engagement.
Synonyms & Antonyms of Perfunctory
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations with Perfunctory
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