apocryphal

[ uh-pok-ruh-fuh l ]
/ əˈpɒk rə fəl /

adjective

of doubtful authorship or authenticity.
Ecclesiastical.
  1. (initial capital letter) of or relating to the Apocrypha.
  2. of doubtful sanction; uncanonical.
false; spurious: He told an apocryphal story about the sword, but the truth was later revealed.

Origin of apocryphal

First recorded in 1580–90; apocryph(a) + -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM apocryphal

a·poc·ry·phal·ly, adverb a·poc·ry·phal·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for apocryphal

British Dictionary definitions for apocryphal

apocryphal
/ (əˈpɒkrɪfəl) /

adjective

of questionable authenticity
(sometimes capital) of or like the Apocrypha
untrue; counterfeit

Derived forms of apocryphal

apocryphally, adverb