Meaning & use
apocryphal
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Often told as true but probably invented or not proven.
Grammar: Used for stories and sayings: an apocryphal tale.
Patterns
- an apocryphal story
- probably apocryphal
The story that he invented the sandwich while gambling is probably apocryphal.
Many apocryphal tales surround the old castle.
The quote is apocryphal; he never said it.
adjectivebefore a nounreligion
Of unknown or doubted authorship, especially writings left out of an official collection of religious texts.
Grammar: Often capitalized when it refers to the Apocrypha.
Patterns
- apocryphal gospel
- apocryphal text
Scholars study the apocryphal gospels for clues about early belief.
The apocryphal book was left out of the official collection.
An apocryphal text turned up in the desert.
Common combinations
- an apocryphal story
- It is an apocryphal story, but people love repeating it.
- probably apocryphal
- The tale is probably apocryphal.
- apocryphal tale
- An apocryphal tale says he walked to school barefoot.
- apocryphal quote
- The apocryphal quote is often attributed to Twain.
- apocryphal gospel
- The apocryphal gospel was discovered in 1945.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fictitious
- Fictitious means invented outright, whereas apocryphal stories may contain some truth.
- legendary
- Legendary suggests fame and often admiration, while apocryphal casts doubt.
- spurious
- Spurious means false or fake, often with intent to deceive.
- dubious
- Dubious means doubtful in general, not limited to stories.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: apocryphal or apochryphal?
apocryphal vs apochryphal
This misspelling adds an extra h; the correct spelling has no h after the c.
Practice
The story that Newton discovered gravity when an apple hit his head is probably ___.
Choose one answer.
Apocryphal means widely told but likely untrue. The other options mean the story is proven.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “apocryphal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.