bogeyman

American  

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

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

noun

plural

bogeymen

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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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

This particular European bogeyman dates back to 2014, when the U.S. and the European Union were negotiating a trans-Atlantic trade agreement.

From Slate • Feb. 13, 2026

Opponents of Proposition 50 have their own bogeyman.

From Barron's • Nov. 4, 2025

“Uber is no longer the bogeyman it was,” said McNamara.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

Nicolas Cage plays the film’s titular bogeyman — but you wouldn’t necessarily know that from the marketing materials, which deliberately obscure the actor’s face.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2024

Two carefully watches the bushes along the sidewalk for a lurking bogeyman or worse.

From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson