perfunctory Meaning & Definition
What Does Perfunctory Mean?
Perfunctory is an adjective that means Done only or merely to conform to a minimal standard or to fulfill a protocol or presumptive duty. It is also used to mean Performed in a careless or indifferent manner as a thing of rote.
Perfunctory at a Glance
| Part of speech | adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /pəˈfʌŋk.t(ə)ɹɪ/ |
| Syllables | 3 |
| Synonyms | cursory, casual and careless |
| Antonyms | careful, complete and thorough |
| Comparative / superlative | more perfunctory, most perfunctory |
Perfunctory Definition (Adjective)
- Done only or merely to conform to a minimal standard or to fulfill a protocol or presumptive duty.
a perfunctory kiss
- Performed in a careless or indifferent manner as a thing of rote.
He did a perfunctory job cleaning his dad's car, finishing quickly but leaving a few spots still dirty.
Adjective
- Done only to fulfil a duty, or in a careless or indifferent manner; performed mechanically and as a thing of rote.
He did a perfunctory job cleaning his dad's car, finishing quickly but leaving a few spots still dirty.
Synonyms of Perfunctory
Antonyms of Perfunctory
Perfunctory in a Sentence
a perfunctory kiss
He did a perfunctory job cleaning his dad's car, finishing quickly but leaving a few spots still dirty.
Word Forms & Grammar
perfunctory (comparative more perfunctory, superlative most perfunctory)
Origin of Perfunctory
From Late Latin perfunctōrius (“careless, negligent”), from the past participial stem of perfungor, perfunct- (“perform, carry through”), from per- + fungor.
Pronouncing Perfunctory
Perfunctory is pronounced /pəˈfʌŋk.t(ə)ɹɪ/ and has 3 syllables, with the main stress on the second syllable (fʌŋk).
Questions People Ask About Perfunctory
What part of speech is perfunctory?
Perfunctory is an adjective.
What is another word for perfunctory?
You can replace perfunctory with words such as cursory, casual and careless. See the full list of perfunctory synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of perfunctory?
The opposite of perfunctory can be expressed with words like careful, complete and thorough.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of perfunctory?
The comparative form is more perfunctory and the superlative form is most perfunctory.