Spurious
/ˈspjʊriəs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Spurious describes things that seem true, real, or correct but are actually false or wrong. It often refers to ideas, arguments, or objects that are fake or not genuine. People use it when they want to say something is not what it claims to be.
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See It in Action
False or not genuine; pretending to be real or true
- •The scientist rejected the spurious data because it did not come from reliable experiments.
- •The politician made spurious promises to gain votes.
- •The email warning was spurious and created unnecessary panic.
Not valid or logically correct; based on wrong reasoning
- •His argument was spurious and did not convince the jury.
- •The report contained spurious correlations that confused the readers.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "spurious" like "fake," but more formal and used for ideas or reasons, not just objects.
- ✓Picture a diamond that looks real but is actually glass—shiny but not valuable.
- ✓It feels like being tricked by something that seems good or true at first but is actually wrong.
- ✓Sounds like "SPUR-ee-us" → imagine a "spur" (a small sharp tool) that looks useful but is broken and useless.
- ✓In stories, a spurious claim is like a false rumor that causes confusion.
- ✓NOT like "true" (real and correct), spurious is the opposite—false but pretending to be true.
- ✓NOT like "mistake" (an accident), spurious is often made on purpose or is misleading.
- ✓NOT like "fake" (simple object falsehood), spurious is often about ideas, reasons, or information pretending to be real.
Try Other Words
- •False: not true or correct (Use when something is simply untrue)
- •Bogus: not real or genuine, often used for documents or claims (Use in informal situations)
- •Invalid: not correct or accepted, especially in logic or rules (Use when talking about arguments or proofs)
- •Counterfeit: made to look like something real, usually money or goods (Use when talking about physical items made to trick people)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "spur-" (no direct meaning here) + "-ious" (a suffix forming adjectives)
- •Etymology: From Latin "spurius," meaning illegitimate or false child
- •Historical development: Originally used in legal and social contexts for children not born to the claimed father; later expanded to mean anything false or not genuine
- •Modern usage: Used mainly to describe false ideas, claims, data, or reasons that seem true but are not
Reflect & Connect
•How can you tell if information or an idea is spurious in everyday life?
•Why is it important to recognize spurious arguments or claims in news and conversations?
Fill in the blanks
1.The scientist ignored the spurious ___ because it was not supported by real evidence.
2.Spurious promises often lead to ___ when people realize the truth.
3.Unlike true facts, spurious information is designed to ___ people.
4.When an argument is spurious, it usually lacks ___ or good reasons.
5.The email was marked as spurious ___ because it came from an unknown sender.
6.Detecting spurious claims requires careful ___ and checking of sources.
7.Politicians sometimes use spurious ___ to gain support even if they are not honest.