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1 Definition
Perfunctory describes an action carried out with minimal effort or interest, done merely as a routine duty rather than with genuine care or attention.
2 In Use
The waiter gave a perfunctory nod before rushing off to the next table without asking if we needed anything else.
3 Word Origin
[#~etymology_chain~#]Perfunctory traces back to the Latin perfunctorius, meaning done in a careless or superficial manner, which itself derives from perfungi, meaning to get through or perform. The prefix per means thoroughly, while fungi means to perform or discharge a duty. Over time, the sense shifted subtly from simply completing a task to completing it with a notable lack of enthusiasm, and the word entered English in the late sixteenth century carrying that slightly dismissive edge it still has today.
💡Fun Fact
Perfunctory often shows up in legal and bureaucratic writing to describe reviews, inspections, or hearings that technically satisfy a requirement without any real scrutiny behind them, a usage that has made the word a favorite among judges and journalists critiquing institutions for going through the motions. It pairs interestingly with its near opposite, assiduous, which describes careful and persistent effort. Writers often reach for perfunctory when they want to imply hidden disrespect or boredom without saying so directly, since the word itself carries a faint whiff of judgment. It's a favorite in workplace reviews and diplomatic reporting, where a perfunctory handshake or perfunctory apology signals that something is missing beneath the surface politeness.
