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- Dictionaryperfunctory/pəˈfʌŋ(k)t(ə)ri/
adjective
- 1. (of an action) carried out without real interest, feeling, or effort: "he gave a perfunctory nod"
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done quickly and without showing that you care or have much interest: She asked a few perfunctory questions about my family and then ended the conversation. (Definition of perfunctory from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) Examples of perfunctory.
1. : characterized by routine or superficiality : mechanical. a perfunctory smile. 2. : lacking in interest or enthusiasm. perfunctorily. pər-ˈfəŋ (k)-t (ə-)rə-lē. adverb. perfunctoriness. pər-ˈfəŋ (k)-t (ə-)rē-nəs. noun. Did you know? A perfunctory explanation of the origins of perfunctory would be this: it comes from Latin.
Perfunctory definition: performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial. See examples of PERFUNCTORY used in a sentence.
A perfunctory action is done quickly and carelessly, and shows a lack of interest in what you are doing. She gave the list only a perfunctory glance. ...a perfunctory handshake.
Perfunctory means done as part of a routine or duty. If you give someone a gift and they look at it like it's roadkill and say nothing but a perfunctory "thank you," you might not be giving them another one anytime soon.
done quickly and without showing that you care or have much interest: She asked a few perfunctory questions about my family and then ended the conversation. (Definition of perfunctory from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) Examples of perfunctory.
Definition of perfunctory adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Define perfunctory. perfunctory synonyms, perfunctory pronunciation, perfunctory translation, English dictionary definition of perfunctory. adj. 1. Done routinely and with little interest or care: The operator answered the phone with a perfunctory greeting. 2. Acting with indifference; showing...
All you need to know about "PERFUNCTORY" in one place: definitions, pronunciations, synonyms, grammar insights, collocations, examples, and translations.
The earliest known use of the adjective perfunctory is in the late 1500s. OED's earliest evidence for perfunctory is from 1592, in the writing of Gabriel Harvey, scholar and writer. perfunctory is a borrowing from Latin.
