What does cursory mean?
Cursory is an adjective describing something done quickly and with little attention to detail. A cursory glance, a cursory reading, or a cursory inspection covers the surface of a thing without probing its depths, often implying that more care was warranted. The word derives from the Latin 'cursorius', meaning 'of or pertaining to running', from 'cursus', 'a running' — so a cursory treatment of a subject literally runs over it rather than pausing to examine it. In modern usage, cursory almost always carries a mildly critical tone: it suggests haste, superficiality, or indifference, and it is frequently used in formal contexts such as reviews, audits, and examinations. Its common derivatives are the adverb 'cursorily' and the noun 'cursoriness'. Writers reach for cursory when they want to signal that an effort was made in name only — quick enough to be called action, but shallow enough to miss what matters.
adjectiveHasty, superficial, and not detailed or thorough; done quickly and without careful attention to detail.
- Done quickly and with insufficient attention to detail; superficial or hasty.
"He gave the contract only a cursory glance before signing it."
"The inspector's cursory walkthrough missed the water damage hidden behind the paneling."
"She offered a cursory apology before hurrying out of the room."
Cursory comes from the Latin for 'a running' — so a cursory glance is literally one that runs past your eyes without stopping.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cursory
Cursory entered English in the early 17th century, borrowed from Late Latin 'cursorius', meaning 'of or relating to running', itself derived from 'cursus', the past participle stem of 'currere', 'to run'. The same Latin root gives English 'course', 'current', 'courier', and 'discourse', as well as 'cursor', the moving indicator on a screen, and 'cursive', the running style of handwriting. Over time, cursory shifted from the literal sense of rapid movement to its figurative modern sense of hasty and superficial attention.
Related word forms
How cursory is actually used
Cursory carries a mildly negative connotation, implying that greater care or thoroughness was expected. It is common in formal writing and criticism, typically applied to actions of looking, reading, examining, or reviewing rather than to people themselves.
Easily confused with cursory
Not a real word — 'cursory' is sometimes misspelled this way; there is no such term.