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.
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
People have sold personal belongings, like their cars, to afford services that turn out to be bogus, said Christopher Ross, who oversees migration and refugee resettlement services at Catholic Charities USA.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 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
After the comments sparked outrage, he said he had been referring only to those with "fake and bogus degrees".
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Sooner or later, somebody was going to realize that my presence here was completely bogus.
From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman
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.
