adj
spurious
SPYOOR-ree-uhs
adj
1
False or not genuine, despite appearing real.
"The report was based on spurious data that couldn't be verified."
"He made a spurious claim about his qualifications."
2
Not actually relevant or logically connected; a false correlation.
"The study found only a spurious link between the two variables."
How to Use Spurious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFake, false, or based on a misleading connection rather than real evidence.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "specious," which means something that seems plausible but is actually wrong — spurious more strongly implies fakeness or a false origin.
Easily confused with
specious
Common pairings
spurious claim
spurious correlation
spurious argument
Word Forms
more spurious comparative, most spurious superlative
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The report was based on _____ data that couldn't be verified.
Etymology
From Late Latin spurius, meaning "illegitimate" or "false."