spurious

[ spyoor-ee-uhs ]

adjective

1. not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claimed, pretended, or proper source; counterfeit.

   Synonyms: deceitful, meretricious, phony, feigned, mock, bogus, sham, false

   Antonyms: genuine

2. Biology. (of two or more parts, plants, etc.) having a similar appearance but a different structure.
3. of illegitimate birth; bastard.

spurious

/ ˈspjʊərɪəs /

adjective

1. not genuine or real
2. (of a plant part or organ) having the appearance of another part but differing from it in origin, development, or function; false

   a spurious fruit

3. (of radiation) produced at an undesired frequency by a transmitter, causing interference, etc
4. rare.
   illegitimate

Derived Forms

• ˈspuriously, adverb
• ˈspuriousness, noun

Other Words From

• spuri·ous·ly adverb
• spuri·ous·ness noun
• non·spuri·ous adjective
• non·spuri·ous·ly adverb
• non·spuri·ous·ness noun
• un·spuri·ous adjective
• un·spuri·ous·ly adverb
• un·spuri·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spurious¹

1590–1600; < Latin spurius bastard, perhaps < Etruscan; -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of spurious¹

C17: from Latin spurius of illegitimate birth

Related Words

• bogus
• false
• phony
• specious