bogey

¹ American  

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

noun

plural

bogeys

1. Golf.

   1. a score of one stroke over par on a hole.

   2. par.

2. bogy.

3. Military. Also bogy, bogie an unidentified aircraft or missile, especially one detected as a blip on a radar screen.

4. bogie.

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verb (used with object)

bogeyed, bogeying

1. Golf. to make a bogey on (a hole).

   Arnold Palmer bogeyed the 18th hole.

bogey ² American  

[boh-gee] / ˈboʊ gi /

noun

plural

bogeys

1. a swim; bathe.

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verb (used without object)

bogeyed, bogeying

1. to swim; bathe.

bogey ³ American  

[boh-gee] / ˈboʊ gi /

verb (used with or without object)

bogeyed, bogeying,

plural

bogeys

1. bogart.

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bogey ¹ British  

/ ˈbəʊɡɪ /

noun

1. an evil or mischievous spirit

2. something that worries or annoys

3. golf

   1. a score of one stroke over par on a hole Compare par

   2. obsolete a standard score for a hole or course, regarded as one that a good player should make

4. slang a piece of dried mucus discharged from the nose

5. slang air force an unidentified or hostile aircraft

6. slang a detective; policeman

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verb

1. (tr) golf to play (a hole) in one stroke over par

bogey ² British  

/ ˈbəʊɡɪ /

verb

1. to bathe or swim

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noun

1. a bathe or swim

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

Hojgaard also had two bogeys and one double bogey, despite two birdies, in his first 10 holes to boost Woodland's chances.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

However, after hitting his second shot into greenside rough, he could only hack his ball out and watch helplessly as it trundled across the green and into the water, leading to another bogey.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

That included a three-birdie burst at nine, 10 and 11 and, after a bogey at 12, birdies at 16, 17 and 18.

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

Joining him at 12 under minutes later were Xander Schauffele, who birdied No. 10, and playing partner McIlroy, who three-putted for bogey.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2026

He was just some sort of bogey that lived in bad dreams and the dark corners of imagination.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques