Well-read · Work & business · Character
Perfunctory: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Perfunctory adjective. Done quickly and with little care or interest, just to get it over with.
How to say it
puh-FUNK-tuh-ree/pəˈfʌŋkt(ə)ri/
4 syllables, stressed on the second (FUNK). Forms: perfunctorily.
Perfunctory in a sentence
The waiter gave a perfunctory nod and disappeared for twenty minutes.
After a perfunctory glance at my CV, the interviewer asked about my star sign.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- cursory
- token
- half-hearted
- offhand
Opposite:
- thorough
- careful
Where perfunctory comes from
From Late Latin perfunctorius, careless, from perfungi, to get something done with.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
After a _____ glance at my CV, the interviewer asked about my star sign.
- peripatetic
- collegial
- perfunctory
Show the answer
perfunctory: After a perfunctory glance at my CV, the interviewer asked about my star sign.