1500-1600Late Latinperfunctorius, from Latinperfunctus, past participle of perfungi ‘to get something done’
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
a perfunctory apology
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
A 6-3 third set lasted only 26 perfunctory minutes.
I could probably live with it, but really this perfunctory business belongs out of sight.
If the national government had seemed perfunctory in its response to the threats against Baker, it seemed oblivious to his death.
Rick is assigned a perfunctory review of the Cindy Liggett case.
Rochford did it with an almost perfunctory efficiency.
Thomas's mind seemed to be elsewhere, and there was no perfunctory laugh in return.
You put in a coin, a wand twirls, and a brief selection of perfunctory destinies is on offer.
a perfunctory action is done quickly, and is only done because people expect it: She gave him a perfunctory smile. The applause was perfunctory.—perfunctorily adverb