perfunctory

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Antonyms 1.3.3 Related terms 1.3.4 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Late Latin perfunctorius, from the past participial stem of perfungor, perfunct- (“‘perform, carry through’”), from per- + fungor

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /pəˈfʌŋk.tɹɪ/, SAMPA: /p@"VNk.t@r.I/
• (US) IPA: /pɚˈfʌŋ.tɚ.i/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Adjective

perfunctory (comparative more perfunctory, superlative most perfunctory)

1. Performed out of routine and with little care.

   He did a perfunctory job cleaning his dad's car, finishing quickly but leaving a few spots still dirty.

   • 1992, Peter Bowbrick, The Economics of Quality, Grades, and Brands, p. 55,

     Alternatively it may mean that a perfunctory search is enough to ensure that a purchase is acceptable, so less search is carried out.

[edit] Synonyms

• (performed out of routine): automatic, cursory, dutiful, mechanical, obligatory, slipshod, token, unthinking

[edit] Antonyms

• thoughtful

[edit] Related terms

• perfunctorily
• perfunctoriness

[edit] Translations