January 12, 2026
perfunctory
/pəˈfʌŋk.t(ə)ɹɪ/adjective
Done quickly and without real care or interest, merely because it has to be done.
Example sentences
- “She gave the report a perfunctory glance and signed it without reading further.”
- “The receptionist gave us a perfunctory smile and went back to her phone.”
- “After a perfunctory search of the car, the guard waved us through.”
Often describes small gestures: a perfunctory nod or a perfunctory apology. The word itself signals that the person's heart was not in it.