apocryphal
Americanadjective
-
of doubtful authorship or authenticity.
-
Ecclesiastical.
-
(initial capital letter) of or relating to the Apocrypha.
-
of doubtful sanction; uncanonical.
-
-
false; spurious.
He told an apocryphal story about the sword, but the truth was later revealed.
adjective
-
of questionable authenticity
-
(sometimes capital) of or like the Apocrypha
-
untrue; counterfeit
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of apocryphal
First recorded in 1580–90; apocryph(a) + -al 1
Explanation
Urban legends — stories about phantom hitchhikers, deep-fried rats, and spider eggs in bubblegum — are classic examples of apocryphal tales. They're told as if they're true, but no one can ever verify their origins or authenticity. Today, any dubious or unverifiable story may be dismissed as apocryphal. Originally, however, apocryphal was reserved for religious writings that were not included in the Torah or the New Testament of the Bible because the divinity of the texts was not certain. These texts are known as the Apocrypha and are included in the Septuagint (a Greek version of the Hebrew Bible) and the Vulgate (a Latin Bible edited in the 4th century).
Vocabulary lists containing apocryphal
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Fake It 'Til You Make It: Synonyms for "False"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Every kid learns the apocryphal story of George Washington chopping down a cherry tree and confessing: “I cannot tell a lie.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
Much of “Flour” is concerned with the woman’s conversation with her driver about a parable from the apocryphal Gospel of Thomas that he is translating from Coptic—a tale, he says, about emptiness and unknowing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2025
What of President Jackson's likely apocryphal rebuttal of the power of the courts, that they don't have an army to make him follow their rulings?
From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2025
Some see this as a new version of the apocryphal story of Nero fiddling while Rome burns.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2024
“It’s the kind of apocryphal story hotel where people usually only stay when their upcar breaks down during a rainstorm.”
From "Feed" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
