bogus
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bogus
1825–30, originally an apparatus for coining false money; perhaps akin to bogy 1
Explanation
Bogus means fake. A bogus dollar bill is counterfeit, a bogus Picasso was not painted by him, and a bogus attempt at reconciliation would come from someone who never intended to end a fight. The word bogus originated in the U.S. It was coined as a name for a machine that printed counterfeit money and later became a trademark term among California surfers. In surfer speak, "totally bogus, dude" would describe any unfortunate situation.
Vocabulary lists containing bogus
Fake It 'Til You Make It: Synonyms for "False"
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Smoke and Mirrors: The Lingo of Illusion and Deception
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "B"
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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.
Prakash told the Guardian that he was inspired to create the bogus survey after polls and prediction markets showed Abdul El-Sayed winning the Democratic U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Authorities in New Jersey are investigating the death of Mohamed Coulibaly, the founder of an e-commerce scheme that recruited professional athletes to invest in seemingly bogus websites.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
The courts would eventually toss Mr. Delrahim’s bogus case, but not before the delay helped torpedo AT&T’s business strategy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
In recent weeks, there have been arrests and punishment – ranging from detention awaiting criminal prosecution to fines – for the creation of bogus reports and video content.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
These tests were, of course, cross-referenced with the fake educational background and work history that I’d given to my bogus Bryce Lynch identity.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
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.
