/ pəˈfʌŋktəri; NAmE pərˈf-/ adjective
( formal ) ( of an action ) done as a duty or habit, without real interest, attention or feeling :
a perfunctory nod / smile
They only made a perfunctory effort.
► per·func·tor·ily / -trəli; NAmE / adverb :
to nod / smile perfunctorily
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from late Latin perfunctorius careless, from Latin perfunct- done with, discharged, from the verb perfungi .