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

Example Sentences

Labour has repeatedly accused the previous government of leaving a £22bn "black hole" in the public finances - a claim previous chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, described as "spurious".

From BBC

Jeremy Hunt - the last Conservative chancellor - said the £22bn gap was “spurious” and that the public finances were not nearly as bad as Ms Reeves had tried to present them.

From BBC

Career prosecutors who pushed back against spurious criminal charges, for example, were fired or chose to resign.

From Salon

It was made all the more believable because, unlike fake audio which usually appears first from spurious sources, this was broadcast on an official Nasa channel.

From BBC

His partner Mr Warmington said it became clear that the Post Office was "aware, possibly at the highest levels" that the Horizon system had "for years been producing spurious discrepancies in branch accounts".

From BBC

Related Words

• bogus
• false
• phony
• specious