bogey
1 Americannoun
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bogeys
plural
verb (used without object)
verb (used with or without object)
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bogeys
plural
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
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:
You see it in the professionals, who play better golf than we could play in 30 lifetimes, but then bogey a crucial hole and return to the clubhouse emotionally crushed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Fleetwood conceded an over-zealous approach on the ninth - which bounded through the baked green and led to a bogey - was a "terrible mistake".
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
He needed to step high to get to the ball but was able to hit it out of the area, eventually making bogey on the par-four hole.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
It led to a fifth bogey of the round as he finished eight off the pace.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 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
“On 16 I had an eight-footer for par that lipped out and she parred, so now all of a sudden I’m down one,” said Phillips, who finished with three birdies, an eagle and four bogeys.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
McIlroy was unable to rediscover the rhythm that rocketed him into contention on Saturday, with his topsy-turvy round of 69 containing four birdies, an eagle and five bogeys.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
Sinking an early birdie on the fifth got the crowd going but starting the back half with bogeys on 10 and 12 threatened to deflate the mood.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 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
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
It was in stark contrast to Lee's finish Saturday, when the 27-year-old had bogeyed the final two holes and dramatically tossed his ball into the Pacific Ocean in frustration.
From Barron's ● Feb. 15, 2026
With Allan Kournikova — younger brother of tennis star Anna Kournikova and a lifelong friend — as her caddie, Trump bogeyed the first four holes before registering her first par.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2025
Li did likewise on 17 to get to 11 under but then bogeyed the last.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2025
Hatton bogeyed 16 to finish on eight under.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2025
He birdied four of the next five holes before bogeying the last.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
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
Homa overcame a rough start, bogeying two of his first three holes to shoot 69.
From Seattle Times ● May 9, 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
The lead allowed the four-time major winner to come home in relative comfort despite bogeying the last two holes.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2022
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
