Dictionary

apocryphal

adjective apoc·ry·phal \ə-ˈpä-krə-fəl\

: well-known but probably not true

Full Definition of APOCRYPHAL

1
:  of doubtful authenticity :  spurious
2
often capitalized :  of or resembling the Apocrypha
apoc·ry·phal·ly \-fə-lē\ adverb
apoc·ry·phal·ness noun
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Examples of APOCRYPHAL

  1. During these men's professional lives, Wall Street has become accustomed to getting what it wants from Washington. America's top bankers have an even longer history of not giving a hoot what the public thinks. Sample (possibly apocryphal) quote from the original J.P. Morgan: I owe the public nothing. —Daniel Gross, Newsweek, 23 Feb. 2009

Origin of APOCRYPHAL

(see apocrypha)
First Known Use: 1590

Synonym Discussion of APOCRYPHAL

fictitious, fabulous, legendary, mythical, apocryphal mean having the nature of something imagined or invented. fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception <fictitious characters>. fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence <a land of fabulous riches>. legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition <the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett>. mythical implies a purely fanciful explanation of facts or the creation of beings and events out of the imagination <mythical creatures>. apocryphal implies an unknown or dubious source or origin or may imply that the thing itself is dubious or inaccurate <a book that repeats many apocryphal stories>.

Other Bible Terms

antediluvian, apocalyptic, apocrypha, behemoth

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