Word: perfunctory (adjective)

Associations

"Perfunctory" means doing something quickly and without care or interest. It often describes actions done just because they must be, not because someone wants to do them well.

• Example 1: He gave a perfunctory nod, not really listening to what was said. (Shows lack of attention.)
• Example 2: The teacher’s perfunctory grading made the students feel unimportant. (Shows lack of effort.)
• Example 3: She gave a perfunctory smile when she was upset. (Shows a quick, not genuine smile.)

A synonym is "superficial." The difference is "superficial" usually means something is shallow or only on the surface, while "perfunctory" focuses on doing something with little effort or care.

Substitution

You can replace "perfunctory" with:

• "cursory" (quick and not detailed)
• "mechanical" (done without thinking)
• "routine" (done regularly without much thought)

Each word changes the feeling slightly: "cursory" is about speed, "mechanical" about lack of thought, and "routine" about habit.

Deconstruction

"Perfunctory" comes from Latin "perfunctorius," from "perfungi" meaning "to get through" or "to perform."

• Prefix "per-" means "through" or "completely."
• Root "fungi" means "to perform" or "to do."
• Suffix "-ory" turns it into an adjective describing the nature of the action.

So, "perfunctory" literally means "done completely" but with the sense of just getting through something without care.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you did something in a perfunctory way? How did it feel?
• How might someone feel if they receive a perfunctory response from a friend or teacher?
• What are some actions in daily life that might be done perfunctorily? Why?