Merriam-Webster's Word Central

June 14, 2011

perfunctory (adjective): \per-FUNK-tuh-ree\
What does it mean?: 1 : done mechanically or carelessly2 : lacking in interest or enthusiasm : indifferent
How do you use it?: Ethan's work in science was only perfunctory until his new teacher managed to fire up his imagination.
Are you a word wiz?: Which one of these sentences do you think uses "perfunctory" correctly?

A. "If you were as perfunctory as your sister, you'd do better in school," Dad scolded.

B. Emily is studying music at a well-known perfunctory.

C. The candidate offered the same perfunctory smile to everyone he met on the campaign trail.

D. Doug planned to travel, and was glad that studying a foreign language was perfunctory at his school.

You're not being careless if you picked C. Sentence A doesn't work because the sister who does so well most likely gives her best effort, not a careless or indifferent one, and so cannot be correctly described as "perfunctory." You can eliminate sentence B because it uses "perfunctory" in place of the noun "conservatory" in referring to a school for musicians. In sentence D, "perfunctory" studies wouldn't help Doug much in his travels; however, "compulsory" (meaning "required") language study would. That leaves us with sentence C and the mechanical smile of the politician.