- a variation of bogy.
bogey
1 Americannoun
verb (used without object)
verb (used with or without object)
noun
-
an evil or mischievous spirit
-
something that worries or annoys
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golf
-
a score of one stroke over par on a hole Compare par
-
obsolete a standard score for a hole or course, regarded as one that a good player should make
-
-
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
Noun Inflected 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.
McIlroy eventually escaped with a bogey, his second consecutive green jacket and an overwhelming sense of relief.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
Despite a stumble with a bogey at the 16th, he responded immediately by sinking an eight-foot putt for birdie at the par-three 17th to regain his narrow advantage.
From BBC • May 10, 2026
On Sunday’s 18th hole, when she had to sink a long putt just to walk away with a bogey, that feeling struck again despite the runaway victory.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026
The wealthy but suddenly unmoored LIV golfers have been left to scramble like a weekend hacker trying to salvage a bogey after chipping into a sand trap.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026
Heroes and bogey men, values and dislikes, are first encountered and labeled in that early environment.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
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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.