Cursory means quick and not thorough, done with minimal attention to detail. When you give something a cursory glance, you look at it briefly without really studying it. A cursory reading means skimming through text fast instead of reading carefully.

Teachers sometimes complain about students doing cursory work on assignments: turning in papers that look rushed, with ideas barely developed and questions only half-answered. The word carries a sense of carelessness or insufficient effort. If a doctor gives you only a cursory examination, spending just seconds checking you over, you'd probably want a more thorough exam.

A cursory inspection of your room before guests arrive might miss the pile of clothes stuffed under your bed. A cursory review of your math homework might catch the obvious mistakes but miss the subtle errors.

When something deserves careful attention, a cursory approach usually isn't enough. The opposite would be a thorough, careful, or detailed examination.