Perfunctory
Done in a careless or superficial way; mechanical and lacking enthusiasm.
adjectivePerfunctory
Done in a careless or superficial way; mechanical and lacking enthusiasm.
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Imagine This
The toy factory inspector has to inspect thousands of toys every day; it is so routine that he does the job just for the sake of it.
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Sounds Like
PER-fuhnk-tuh-ree
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Looks Like
Per factory (Each factory)
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Remember This
From Latin perfunctus 'completed', from per- 'through' + fungī 'to perform'; perfunctory is often used to describe actions done as a matter of form rather than genuine effort.
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Other Forms
perfunctorinessnoun
perfunctorilyadverb
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Connect With
cursory, superficial, automatic, mechanical, apathetic
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Note
Do not confuse with 'perseverance' (persistence) or 'perfect' (flawless). Perfunctory describes a lack of real engagement; watch for tone and context.