apocryphal

Advancedzipf 2.66

Pronunciation

/əˈpɒkrɪfəl/(uh-POK-rih-ful)

Part of speech

adjectiveformal

Chinese

杜撰的；真实性可疑的

Definition

Of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true; fabricated.

Word family

  • apocryphally/əˈpɒkrɪfəli/(adv)杜撰地
  • Apocrypha/əˈpɒkrɪfə/(n)伪经

Collocations

  • apocryphal story
  • apocryphal tale
  • probably apocryphal
  • apocryphal account

Examples

  1. 1.The story that Newton discovered gravity when an apple hit his head is probably apocryphal. (of doubtful truth)
  2. 2.Many apocryphal quotes are attributed to Einstein, Churchill, and Mark Twain — most of which they never actually said. (falsely attributed)

Synonyms

  • fictitious/fɪkˈtɪʃəs/— invented
  • dubious/ˈdjuːbiəs/— doubtful
  • spurious/ˈspjʊəriəs/— false, not genuine

Etymology

from Greek "apokryphos" = hidden — apo- (away) + kryptein (to hide) — originally "hidden writings" excluded from the biblical canon — now any story of doubtful authenticity