bogey
1 Americannoun
verb (used without object)
verb (used with or without object)
noun
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an evil or mischievous spirit
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something that worries or annoys
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golf
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a score of one stroke over par on a hole Compare par
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obsolete a standard score for a hole or course, regarded as one that a good player should make
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slang a piece of dried mucus discharged from the nose
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slang air force an unidentified or hostile aircraft
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slang a detective; policeman
verb
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bogey1
First recorded in 1890–95; spelling variant of bogy 2
Origin of bogey2
First recorded in 1845–50; from Dharuk, equivalent to bū- “bathe” + -gi past tense marker
Origin of bogey3
First recorded in 1985–90; in reference to Bogey or Bogie , nickname of Humphrey Bogart
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bogey would leave him in a play-off with the Scot.
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2025
“What do you want to know? Bogey, bogey, bogey,” Strange said that day.
From Washington Times • May 13, 2023
“I’m sure Luka grew up watching Bogey, so they both wanted to have big games tonight.”
From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2022
Leiweke hugged Macklemore, who has become entwined with the local sports scene through minority ownership stakes in the Sounders and Kraken and his own golf brand, Bogey Boys.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 6, 2022
When he didn’t get any response, he whistled the “Colonel Bogey March” from The Bridge on the River Kwai.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.