Spurious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Spurious" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is false, not genuine, or lacking authenticity. Example: "The scientist dismissed the spurious claims made by the competitor, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based research."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nor is the link to economic conditions as spurious as it might first appear.

The Guardian - Sport

A spurious tabloid rumour about an Oasis reunion often treads a similar path: "A source" chirrups of some tentative peace within the Gallagher camp.

The Guardian - Music

Along with bad economics, the government has engaged in the kind of scaremongering normally found on the fringes of the environmental movement, holding repeated inquiries into the totally spurious health risks of wind turbines.

The Guardian - Opinion

There have been some – albeit rather spurious – suggestions that England's captain might have considered his own position during this series, but Cook was adamant he has never been close to resigning.

The Guardian - Sport

The story of Game of Thrones is already basically just a Monopoly session writ large, full of aggressive trading and spurious imprisonments and players seeking to gain total control over their peers.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"It is a sad indictment on society that when once spurious claims making false, serious and highly damaging allegations have been made – especially where compensation is sought – that other similar claims may follow," it reads.

The Guardian - Film

The temptation to use these surveys to make much more precise forecasts of how votes might turn into seats proved too great for us all, but the new precision proved to be spurious.

The Guardian - Opinion

That struggle has for a generation been sent off at a tangent by the spurious principle enunciated in article 141 of the EU treaty and the Equal Pay Act 1970 and parroted everywhere else – that women and men should earn equal pay for work of equal value.

The Guardian

This power need not come with responsibility; no government entity will force the company to discourage abuse and promote quality, just as nobody can force Twitter to remain to open to hosting hate speech with spurious appeals to the First Amendment.

The Guardian - Opinion

The considered view of the new House of Commons will be to stay in and not to leave the EU regardless of any spurious "renegotiation" imagined by David Cameron.

The Guardian

An adult self-diagnosing with some spurious allergy or food intolerance is their own business; if you want to bore your friends rigid with your entirely imaginary diet sensitivities, then knock yourself out!

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Spurious" when you want to emphasize that something appears legitimate on the surface but lacks authenticity upon closer inspection. It's stronger than simply calling something "false".

Common error

Avoid using "Spurious" interchangeably with "false" in every context. "Spurious" implies a deceptive appearance of truth, while "false" is a more general term for inaccuracy.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "Spurious" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that is not genuine, authentic, or true. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, providing multiple examples where "Spurious" qualifies nouns like "claims", "arguments", or "reasoning".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

16%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Spurious" is an adjective used to describe something that appears true or genuine but is ultimately false or lacking authenticity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this term is commonly employed in news and media, formal and business contexts, and science. It's crucial to understand the subtle nuance of "Spurious", which implies a deceptive appearance, to use it correctly and avoid confusion with simpler terms like "false". By mastering the use of "Spurious", writers can add depth and precision to their language when discussing matters of legitimacy and validity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

False

A direct synonym, indicating something not true or genuine.

Bogus

Suggests something fake or counterfeit, often with the intent to deceive.

Counterfeit

Implies an imitation or forgery, usually of something valuable.

Fake

A general term for something not real or genuine.

Inauthentic

Emphasizes a lack of originality or genuineness.

Specious

Appears to be true but is actually false; superficially plausible but actually wrong.

Illegitimate

Indicates something not in accordance with accepted standards or rules.

Unfounded

Lacking a solid basis or evidence.

Baseless

Without foundation in fact.

Fallacious

Based on a mistaken belief or unsound reasoning.

FAQs

How to use "Spurious" in a sentence?

You can use "Spurious" to describe claims, arguments, or correlations that appear valid but are actually not supported by evidence. For example, "The scientist dismissed the "spurious claims" made in the study."

What can I say instead of "Spurious"?

You can use alternatives like "false", "bogus", or "specious" depending on the context. "Specious" particularly emphasizes a deceptive appearance of truth.

Which is correct, "Spurious claim" or "False claim"?

Both "spurious claim" and "false claim" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. A "Spurious claim" suggests the claim appears to be valid but is ultimately misleading, whereas a "false claim" is simply untrue.

What's the difference between "Spurious" and "Specious"?

While both words describe something that is not genuine, "specious" emphasizes the deceptive appearance of truth, whereas "spurious" suggests something is not authentic or legitimate.