Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
performance enhancer
performance shares
performative
performing arts
performing arts medicine
perfume
perfumer
perfumery
perfunctory
perfuse
Pergamum
pergola
perhaps
peri
peri-
perianth
periapsis
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "perfunct..." in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

perfunctory

per·func·to·ry [ pər fúngktəree ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. done routinely: done as a matter of duty or custom, without thought, attention, or genuine feeling
a perfunctory kiss

2. hasty: done hastily or superficially
a perfunctory search

[Late 16th century. < late Latin perfunctorius< Latin perfungi "work through" < fungi "perform"]

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

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft