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Perfunctory

Adjective

IPA /pəˈfʌŋktəri/

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Meaning in plain English

Carried out with minimal effort, interest, or enthusiasm—often as a routine duty.

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Pronunciation

Perfunctory/pəˈfʌŋktəri/

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A check must be completed
A quick glance with little care

A perfunctory check is done with minimal effort or interest.

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His perfunctory apology made it clear he didn’t really care.
The security guard gave a perfunctory glance at the bags before letting people in.

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His ________ apology made it clear he didn’t really care.

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Perfunctory — Carried out with minimal effort, interest, or enthusiasm—often as a routine duty.

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Carried out with minimal effort, interest, or enthusiasm—often as a routine duty.

Compare: His perfunctory apology made it clear he didn’t really care.

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Perfunctory is about effort and interest

Perfunctory describes something done mechanically or with little care or enthusiasm. A task can be quick and still be done well, so speed alone does not make it perfunctory. It often modifies an action: a perfunctory inspection, apology, greeting or response.

In context: He gave the instructions a perfunctory glance and missed the warning at the top.

Try it: A colleague checks a short form quickly and accurately. Must the check be perfunctory?

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No. Perfunctory suggests superficial attention, not simply efficiency. Explain what was overlooked or done without interest.

Compare with Diligent →

Dictionary reference: Merriam-Webster: Perfunctory.

Word origin

From Late Latin perfunctorius (“done carelessly”), from perfungi (“to get through with”).

Did you know?

Perfunctory describes the care or interest put into an action, not simply its speed. A brief but careful check need not be perfunctory.

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