perfunctory
adjective
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A perfunctory explanation of the origins of perfunctory would be this: it comes from Latin. Borrowed in the late 16th century, the word is specifically from the Late Latin perfunctorius, meaning "done in a careless or superficial manner." Perfunctorius ultimately comes from two Latin sources, per-, meaning "through," and fungi, meaning "to perform." Fungi is also a source to such words as function, defunct, and fungible, but not to fungus; that word is also from Latin, but it is most likely a modification of the Greek word spongos, meaning "sponge."
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Examples of perfunctory in a Sentence
Nunyo Demasio, Sports Illustrated, 8 Jan. 2007
Convivial and self-absorbed, he talks freely about crime and crooks, with only the most perfunctory nods toward conventional morality.
—Edward Dolnick, The Rescue Artist, 2005
You probably don't want to know how perfunctory was the presentation of the state's evidence, how tenth-rate was the performance of the court-appointed defense or how wretched was the end.
—Christopher Hitchens, Nation, 23-30 Aug. 1999
the violinist delivered a perfunctory performance that displayed none of the passion and warmth he was once known for
Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 2024
Background questions put to refugees were perfunctory.
—Max Abrahms, Foreign Affairs, 22 Mar. 2017
Michelle’s pursuit of health-care reform is explained in a perfunctory flashback to her father’s inadequate hospital treatment; later in the same episode, her arc is braided with that of Betty nursing a shoulder injury while looking after her children.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2022
Naomi and Sandy may be perfunctory Jews, but their ‘70s commune was a Buddhist retreat.
—John Domini, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2023
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Cite this Entry
“Perfunctory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfunctory. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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perfunctory
adjective
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