Apocryphal

Apocryphal [uh-POK-ruh-ful]

(adj.)

-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.

See Verisimilitude.