apocryphal

[uh-pok-ruh-fuh l]

See more synonyms for apocryphal on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of doubtful authorship or authenticity.
Ecclesiastical.
1. (initial capital letter)of or relating to the Apocrypha.
2. of doubtful sanction; uncanonical.
false; spurious: He told an apocryphal story about the sword, but the truth was later revealed.

Origin of apocryphal

First recorded in 1580–90; apocryph(a) + -al¹

Related formsa·poc·ry·phal·ly, adverba·poc·ry·phal·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for apocryphal

mythical, untrue, unsubstantiated, inaccurate, fictitious, counterfeit, doubtful, dubious, equivocal, spurious, unverified, wrong, false, unauthenticated, ungenuine

Examples from the Web for apocryphal

Contemporary Examples of apocryphal

The quote is apocryphal, but that has not changed its significance for Army football players.
A West Point MVP Who Never Played a Down
Nicolaus Mills
December 13, 2014
There are plenty of examples of Christians editing Jewish apocryphal traditions for their own communities.
Jesus Christ, Baby Daddy?
Candida Moss
November 12, 2014
Many of the quotes are mysteriously sourced, apocryphal, or misattributed.
Russell Brand’s Revolution For Morons
Michael Moynihan
November 2, 2014
Lovely stuff, but someone should tell the future congresswoman that every one of these quotes is apocryphal.
Fire the Crackpots of Congress! (And Replace Them with New Crackpots!)
Michael Moynihan
October 27, 2013

Historical Examples of apocryphal

This is apocryphal; I may choose whether I will believe it or no.
The Comedies of William Congreve
William Congreve
The following tale is perhaps the most apocryphal in our series.
Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 2 (of 2)
John Roby
Most of us have heard of the apocryphal American who “does Europe” in a fortnight!
The Idler Magazine, Volume III, March 1893
Various
A tale is told of the origin of the names of some of the islands, which is original, if apocryphal.
America, Volume 5 (of 6)
Joel Cook
Let the fourth Gospel be apocryphal, allow that chapter xxi.
English Conferences of Ernest Renan
Ernest Renan

British Dictionary definitions for apocryphal

apocryphal

adjective

of questionable authenticity
(sometimes capital) of or like the Apocrypha
untrue; counterfeit

Derived Formsapocryphally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for apocryphal

adj.

1580s, "of doubtful authenticity," from Apocrypha + -al (1). Middle English had apocrive (late 14c.) in same sense.