Perfunctory
/pərˈfʌŋktəri/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Perfunctory means doing something in a quick, careless way without paying much attention or showing real interest. It is often used when someone does a task just because they have to, not because they want to do it well.
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See It in Action
Done quickly and without real interest or effort
- •He gave a perfunctory nod and walked away.
- •The teacher's perfunctory explanation did not help the students.
- •She gave a perfunctory smile, not really happy to see him.
Done as a routine or duty, without enthusiasm
- •The security check was perfunctory and missed some important details.
- •His perfunctory cleaning left the room still messy.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'perfunctory' like 'quick,' but with a negative feeling—it means fast but careless, not careful or thoughtful
- ✓Picture someone brushing their teeth very fast, just to finish, without cleaning well
- ✓It's the feeling when you do homework only to get it done, not to learn or enjoy it
- ✓Sounds like 'PER-funk-tory' → imagine a robot named 'Funk' who does tasks fast but without emotion or care
- ✓Think of a waiter who takes an order with no smile or interest, just doing the job to move on
- ✓NOT like 'careful' (done with attention and care), 'perfunctory' is the opposite—done with little care
- ✓NOT like 'slow' (time taken), 'perfunctory' can be quick but also careless
- ✓NOT like 'lazy' (not wanting to do work), 'perfunctory' means doing work but without care or real effort
Try Other Words
- •Casual: done without much attention (Use when the action is relaxed but not necessarily careless)
- •Superficial: done only on the surface, not deep or thorough (Use when the action lacks depth or real effort)
- •Routine: done regularly without special effort (Use when emphasizing repetition, not carelessness)
- •Automatic: done without thinking (Use when action is done without thought, often habitually)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: 'per-' (through, thoroughly) but here it is part of root, not meaning 'through'
- •Root: from Latin 'fungi' meaning 'to perform' or 'to do'
- •Suffix: '-tory' forms adjectives meaning relating to performing an action
- •Etymology: From Latin 'perfunctorius,' meaning 'done carelessly or superficially'
- •Historical development: First used in English in the early 1600s to describe actions done merely to get them done, without care or interest
- •Modern usage: Used to describe actions, gestures, or tasks done without real effort or attention, often negative in tone
Reflect & Connect
•Can an action be both quick and careful, or does 'perfunctory' always mean careless? Why?
•How do you feel when someone gives you a perfunctory answer or smile? How does it affect communication?
Fill in the blanks
1.When he gave a perfunctory ___, it showed he was not really listening to the speaker.
2.The manager’s perfunctory ___ of the report missed several important mistakes.
3.A perfunctory cleaning often leaves ___ areas dirty or untouched.
4.She completed the task in a perfunctory way because she was more interested in ___ than quality.
5.Unlike a careful review, a perfunctory check is done very ___ and without deep thought.
6.He gave a perfunctory smile, which made it clear he was not ___ happy to see her.
7.The security guard's perfunctory patrol made the building ___ to potential dangers.