bogus

[boh-guhs]

adjective

1. not genuine; counterfeit; spurious; sham.

   Synonyms: phony, fake, pseudo, fraudulent

noun

1. Printing, Journalism.,  matter set, by union requirement, by a compositor and later discarded, duplicating the text of an advertisement for which a plate has been supplied or type set by another publisher.

bogus

/ ˈbəʊɡəs /

adjective

1. spurious or counterfeit; not genuine

   a bogus note

Other Word Forms

• bogusly adverb
• bogusness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bogus¹

1825–30, originally an apparatus for coining false money; perhaps akin to bogy ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bogus¹

C19: from bogus apparatus for making counterfeit money; perhaps related to _bogey ¹

Example Sentences

A spokesman for Paxton called this article a “bogus hit piece” given to The Wall Street Journal by Paxton’s political enemies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But the tracks and transportation systems that Gould helped build and consolidate through maneuvers like the “Erie War”—a scheme to issue bogus shares in a vital railroad to gain control of it—were transformative.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He referenced the damage done to the reputation of the University of Wales after a Malaysian pop star with a bogus doctorate ran a college offering courses at the university.

Read more on BBC

And just like with that debacle, the administration is relying on bogus legal theories, manipulation of evidence and lies to justify their actions.

Read more on Salon

Researchers posing as beauticians secretly filmed a nurse trading prescriptions over WhatsApp, a pharmacist coaching clients to falsify records and a bogus doctor handing over Korean toxin vials for cash.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• fake 
• false 
• fictitious 
• forged www.thesaurus.com
• fraudulent 
• phony 
• sham 
• spurious