bogeyman

American  

[boog-ee-man, boh-gee-, boo-] / ˈbʊg iˌmæn, ˈboʊ gi-, ˈbu- /

South Midland and Southern U.S., boogeyman or bogyman

noun

bogeymen plural

1. an imaginary evil character of supernatural powers, especially a mythical hobgoblin supposed to carry off naughty children.

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bogeyman British  

/ ˈbəʊɡɪˌmæn /

noun

1. a person, real or imaginary, used as a threat, esp to children

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bogeymen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bogeyman

First recorded in 1885–90; bogey ¹ (variant of bogy ¹, in the sense “a hobgoblin, evil spirit”) + man

Example Sentences

Nigel Dewale, 60, sent the posts to Carter's TikTok account, under his username "Bogeyman", during the Women's Euro 2025 tournament in which England successfully defended their trophy.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

The Bogeyman Audience members will be blindfolded for this new horror-themed 20-minute theatrical experience; 18 and up only; waiver must be signed before entry.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2019

This isn’t a wisecracking, tongue-in-cheek picture: Green wants us to believe in his Bogeyman, and Curtis is his ace card.

From New York Times • Oct. 17, 2018

Still, not all is lost, because the Bogeyman, bless him, has not forgotten his manners.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 12, 2018

He had replaced Satan, the Bogeyman, Frankenstein's monster, and Mumbo Jumbo, Lord of the Congo, in the public mind.

From Anything You Can Do! by Garrett, Randall