spurious
[ spyoor-ee-uhs ]
/ ˈspyʊər i əs /
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adjective
not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claimed, pretended, or proper source; counterfeit.
Biology. (of two or more parts, plants, etc.) having a similar appearance but a different structure.
of illegitimate birth; bastard.
OTHER WORDS FOR spurious
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Origin of spurious
1590–1600; <Latin spurius bastard, perhaps <Etruscan; see -ous
OTHER WORDS FROM spurious
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use spurious in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for spurious
spurious
/ (ˈspjʊərɪəs) /
adjective
not genuine or real
(of a plant part or organ) having the appearance of another part but differing from it in origin, development, or function; falsea spurious fruit
(of radiation) produced at an undesired frequency by a transmitter, causing interference, etc
rare illegitimate
Derived forms of spurious
spuriously, adverbspuriousness, nounWord Origin for spurious
C17: from Latin spurius of illegitimate birth
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for spurious
spurious
[ spyur′ē-əs ]
adj.
Similar in appearance or symptoms but unrelated in morphology or pathology; false.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.