mer ‧ e ‧ tri ‧ cious /ˌmerəˈtrɪʃəs◂, ˌmerɪˈtrɪʃəs◂/ BrE AmE adjective formal
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: meretricius , from meretrix 'prostitute' , from merere ; ⇨ ↑ merit 1 ]
something that is meretricious seems attractive but has no real value or is not based on the truth:
meretricious research
—meretriciousness noun [uncountable]