-Pertaining to a widely circulated story that is probably not true.
-Of or belonging to the Apocrypha.
From Medieval Latin, from Late Latin “apocryphus” (secret, not canonical) from Greek “apokryphos” (obscure) from “apokryptein” (to hide away) from “apo-” + “kryptein” (to hide). First used -1590
Used in a sentence:
"The meeting between Diogenes and Alexander the Great is widely held to be apocryphal.”
Synonyms: fictitious, made-up, untrue, fabricated, false, spurious, unverified, unauthenticated, unsubstantiated, bogus.