CURSORY

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does cursory mean? 

• CURSORY (adjective)
  The adjective CURSORY has 1 sense:

1. hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough

  Familiarity information: CURSORY used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CURSORY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough

Synonyms:

casual; cursory; passing; perfunctory; superficial

Context example:

In his paper, he showed a very superficial understanding of psychoanalytic theory

Similar:

careless (marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful)

 Context examples 

He then took a cursory view of the present state of the science and explained many of its elementary terms.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

After a cursory glance at the rest of the rooms, from basement to attic, we came to the conclusion that the dining-room contained any effects which might belong to the Count; and so we proceeded to minutely examine them.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

But the cursory glance my father had taken of my volume by no means assured me that he was acquainted with its contents, and I continued to read with the greatest avidity.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Through this work I obtained a cursory knowledge of history and a view of the several empires at present existing in the world; it gave me an insight into the manners, governments, and religions of the different nations of the earth.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)