First Known Use: 1598
Dictionary
spurious
adjective spu·ri·ous \ˈspyu̇r-ē-əs\
: not genuine, sincere, or authentic
: based on false ideas or bad reasoning
Full Definition of SPURIOUS
1
: of illegitimate birth : bastard
2
3
a : of falsified or erroneously attributed origin : forged b : of a deceitful nature or quality <spurious excuses>
— spu·ri·ous·ly adverb
— spu·ri·ous·ness noun
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Examples of SPURIOUS
- One reiterated theme of his book is that the electoral process can be the most dangerous of delusions, tending to confer a spurious legitimacy on those most willing to corrupt it. —Hilary Mantel, New York Review, 21 Sept. 2006
- Of all the potentially spurious phrases regularly found lurking on book jackets, none should be approached with greater wariness than “This is his first novel.” —Tony Early, New York Times Book Review, 30 Apr. 2000
- I have no special interest in defending modern finance theory, but I think it is important to get this straight, lest Soros's own ideas acquire spurious validity as a practical corrective to academic moonshine. —Robert M. Solow, New Republic, 12 Apr. 1999
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Origin of SPURIOUS
Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin spurius false, from Latin, of illegitimate birth, from spurius, noun, bastard
Related to SPURIOUS
Medical Dictionary
spurious
adjective spu·ri·ous \ˈspyu̇r-ē-əs\
Medical Definition of SPURIOUS
: simulating a symptom or condition without being pathologically or morphologically genuine <spurious labor pains> <spurious polycythemia>
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