Perfunctory (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough; "a casual (or cursory) inspection failed to reveal the house's structural flaws"; "a passing glance"; "perfunctory courtesy"; "In his paper, he showed a very superficial understanding of psychoanalytic theory".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The manager gave a perfunctory apology to the customer, but it was clear she wasn't truly sorry.
- The perfunctory examination by the doctor missed the underlying cause of the patient's symptoms.
- After a perfunctory introduction, the speaker launched into a lengthy and detailed presentation.
- The perfunctory handshake between the two former colleagues was a stark contrast to their warm relationship in the past.
- The artist's perfunctory attempt at a self-portrait lacked the depth and emotion of her other works.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
Done or produced as a formality only; "a one-candidate pro forma election".
Classification
All adjective clusters.