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Synonyms
təadjective
1.
performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial: perfunctory courtesy.
2.
lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic: In his lectures he reveals himself to be merely a perfunctory speaker.
Origin:
1575–85; < Late Latin perfūnctōrius negligent, superficial, derivative of perfungī to do one's job, be done, equivalent to per- per- + fung-, base of fungī to perform, function + -tōrius -tory1
1575–85; < Late Latin perfūnctōrius negligent, superficial, derivative of perfungī to do one's job, be done, equivalent to per- per- + fung-, base of fungī to perform, function + -tōrius -tory1
Related forms
per·func·to·ri·ly, adverb
per·func·to·ri·ness, noun
Synonyms
1, 2. negligent, heedless, thoughtless, uninterested.
1, 2. negligent, heedless, thoughtless, uninterested.
Antonyms
1, 2. careful, diligent.
1, 2. careful, diligent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Perfunctory
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is ruffle. Does it mean:
| shut in, out, or off |
| to destroy the smoothness or evenness of; of a bird, to erect the feathers in anger; to disturb or irritate |
Example Sentences
- Many institutions provide only perfunctory advising and/or counseling.
- The daughter remembers how she was too busy with city life to make anything more than a perfunctory phone call home.
- Not even a perfunctory attempt is made to cut America's defence spending.
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
perfunctory
1581, from L.L. perfunctorius "careless, negligent," lit. "like one who wishes to get through a thing," from L. perfungus, pp. of perfungi "discharge, get through," from per- "through" + fungi "perform" (see function).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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