adj.
Pronunciation: ' spyu ̇ r- ē - ə s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin spurius false, from Latin, of illegitimate birth, from spurius, noun, bastard
Date: 1598
1 : of illegitimate birth : BASTARD
2 : outwardly similar or corresponding to something without having its genuine qualities : FALSE <the spurious eminence of the pop celebrity>
3 a : of falsified or erroneously attributed origin : FORGED <a spurious signature> b : of a deceitful nature or quality < spurious excuses>
– spu · ri · ous · ly adverb
– spu · ri · ous · ness noun