bogey
1 Americannoun
verb (used without object)
verb (used with or without object)
noun
-
an evil or mischievous spirit
-
something that worries or annoys
-
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
-
slang air force an unidentified or hostile aircraft
-
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.
See Examples For:
The bogey meant he had missed a golden chance to become the first man to shoot 61 at one of the sport's blue-riband events.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
On Saturday, she had seven birdies and a bogey.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026
The difficult putting surfaces contributed to only one player - in-form American Patrick Reed, who is one shot off the lead - signing a card which was bogey free.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
A double bogey would have pushed McIlroy into a playoff against none other than world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 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
After scrambling well on Thursday and putting his foot down on Friday, Fleetwood moved within a shot of the lead on Saturday before two late bogeys left him seemingly with too much work to do.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
McIlroy endured a rollercoaster first round at Royal Birkdale which included six bogeys and four birdies in his two-over round of 72.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
He carded three bogeys on the opening nine without a birdie.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
Lee, who played at UCLA, cooled a bit Saturday with two bogeys in her first four holes and was midway through her round at press time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026
Harry rather thought some bogeys landed on the potatoes, and was inwardly thankful that they were not staying for dinner.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
McIlroy double-bogeyed the fourth hole and bogeyed the sixth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026
Penge missed the fairway at No. 2, took a one-stroke penalty and bogeyed, while Bridgeman parred to take sole possession of the lead.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2026
Fowler bogeyed the 14th but produced an otherwise flawless round featuring nine birdies.
From Barron's ● Feb. 13, 2026
However, they registered only one birdie between them in their opening 10 holes and Yamashita's lead was cut to a single stroke when she bogeyed the 10th.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2025
Li did likewise on 17 to get to 11 under but then bogeyed the last.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2025
To win last year, McIlroy needed to beat Justin Rose - who finished tied third on Sunday having led by two at the turn - in a sudden death play-off after bogeying the 72nd hole.
From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2026
The two-time major winner was seven over after bogeying the 15th but he was smiling after converting a 55-foot putt for eagle on the next as he ended on five over.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2024
After bogeying the first hole, Kim parred the next five before back-to-back-to-back birdies at seven, eight and nine.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2024
After bogeying three of the last six holes on the front nine, she played a four-hole stretch on the back nine in 4 under.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 27, 2024
“So I told my caddie that’s the least mad I’m ever going to be bogeying the last three.”
From Washington Times ● Jun. 1, 2023
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.
