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:
McIlroy began his round with a bogey at the first but bounced back by picking up shots at the second, fourth and seventh holes.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 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
That gave him enough breathing room to survive a bogey on the 17th, bringing the lead back down to one with one hole left.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 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
“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
Miguel Angel Jimenez shot the second-best round of the day after Johnson, making seven birdies but also two bogeys in a five-under 67 that lifted him to 12 under.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
Back-to-back bogeys at the start of the back nine pushed him further down the leaderboard before he dropped a 24-footer at the 13th.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
That took him to 11 under, but a title challenge from so far back always looked too big an ask and three more birdies were mixed with two bogeys as he finished five strokes behind.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 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
When McIlroy bogeyed the 10th, he dropped back alongside 2018 champion Reed on six under and his general untidiness put his place at the top of the leaderboard under pressure.
From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026
Penge missed the fairway at No. 2, took a one-stroke penalty and bogeyed, while Bridgeman parred to take sole possession of the lead.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 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
The Californian, who started the round one shot off leader Sam Burns, bogeyed five of his first six holes to seemingly drop out of contention.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2025
After bogeying the first hole, Phillips birdied the second, eagled the third and birdied the fourth to vault to the top of the leaderboard.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2025
The two-time major winner was seven over after bogeying the 15th but he was smiling after converting a 55-foot putt for eagle on the next as he ended on five over.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2024
Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa, who led jointly with Schauffele after round three, opened with 14 straight pars before bogeying the 15th.
From BBC ● May 19, 2024
The 30-year-old Maryland native started slowly, bogeying the second hole.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 23, 2023
“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
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