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

Other Word Forms

• spuriously adverb
• spuriousness noun
• nonspurious adjective
• nonspuriously adverb
• nonspuriousness noun
• unspurious adjective
• unspuriously adverb
• unspuriousness 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

The Home Office said it was "reviewing the law to end spurious legal challenges which delay deportations".

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There are fears of spurious medicines flooding the market.

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Now we have a president who is literally selling the place to the highest bidders, all justified on spurious comparisons with some changes Barack Obama made on a much smaller scale.

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The court has allowed the president to terminate government contracts for spurious and often retaliatory reasons.

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While QAnon's spurious narratives revolve around US figures, the theory has taken hold in some parts of Canada and the rest of the world.

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Related Words

• bogus 
• false 
• phony 
• specious