perfunctory

[ per-fuhngk-tuh-ree ]
/ pərˈfʌŋk tə ri /

adjective

performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial: perfunctory courtesy.
lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic: In his lectures he reveals himself to be merely a perfunctory speaker.

Origin of perfunctory

1575–85; < Late Latin perfūnctōrius negligent, superficial, derivative of perfungī to do one's job, be done, equivalent to per- per- + fung-, base of fungī to perform, function + -tōrius -tory1

OTHER WORDS FROM perfunctory

per·func·to·ri·ly, adverb per·func·to·ri·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for perfunctory

British Dictionary definitions for perfunctory

perfunctory
/ (pəˈfʌŋktərɪ) /

adjective

done superficially, only as a matter of routine; careless or cursory
dull or indifferent

Derived forms of perfunctory

perfunctorily, adverb perfunctoriness, noun

Word Origin for perfunctory

C16: from Late Latin perfunctōrius negligent, from perfunctus dispatched, from perfungī to fulfil; see function