Perfunctory

Pronunciation: /pərˈfʌŋktəri/

Definitions of perfunctory

adjective performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial

Example Sentences

A1 She gave a perfunctory smile as she passed by.

A2 The waiter's perfunctory service left much to be desired.

B1 The teacher's perfunctory feedback did not provide much guidance for improvement.

B2 His perfunctory apology did little to repair the damage caused by his actions.

C1 The CEO's perfunctory response to the crisis showed a lack of genuine concern.

C2 The judge's perfunctory sentencing reflected a disregard for the severity of the crime.

Examples of perfunctory in a Sentence

formal The lawyer's perfunctory review of the contract left many important details overlooked.

informal She gave a perfunctory apology without truly meaning it.

slang He did a perfunctory job on the assignment and barely passed.

figurative His perfunctory smile did not reach his eyes, showing his true feelings.

Grammatical Forms of perfunctory

• past tense: perfunctored
• plural: perfunctories
• comparative: more perfunctory
• superlative: most perfunctory
• present tense: perfunctories
• future tense: will perfunctory
• perfect tense: has perfunctory
• continuous tense: is perfunctory
• singular: perfunctory
• positive degree: perfunctory
• infinitive: to perfunctory
• gerund: perfunctoring
• participle: perfunctorying

Origin and Evolution of perfunctory

First Known Use: 0015 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'perfunctory' originated from the Latin word 'perfunctus', which means 'done merely for the sake of getting through something'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'perfunctory' has come to be associated with actions that are performed with little interest or enthusiasm, rather than just being done to get through a task.