ˈspēshəs adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin speciosus beautiful, showy, plausible, from species appearance, beauty + -osus -ous — more at spy
1. obsolete : presenting a pleasing appearance : pleasing in form or look : showy
2. : superficially beautiful or attractive but not so in reality : deceptively beautiful
3. : apparently right or proper : superficially fair, just, or correct but not so in reality : appearing well at first view : plausible
specious reasoning
a specious claim
4. : existing to our senses : actually known or experienced — see specious present
• spe·cious·ly adverb
• spe·cious·ness noun -es