bogus
BOH-guhs
Bogus (adj) means Fake or counterfeit; not genuine. Example: “The company was selling bogus designer handbags.”
adj
1
Fake or counterfeit; not genuine.
"The company was selling bogus designer handbags."
"His excuse for being late sounded completely bogus."
2
Informal: annoying, unfair, or disappointing.
"It's totally bogus that the concert got canceled."
How to use bogus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFake, not real, or (informally) just plain unfair or lame.
Common pairings
bogus claim
bogus excuse
totally bogus
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more bogus
- Superlative
- most bogus
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company was selling _____ designer handbags.
Etymology
First recorded in 19th-century America as underworld slang for a device used to make counterfeit coins, later broadening to mean anything fake or of poor quality.
Class of 1800
bogus joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “bogus” mean?
The word “bogus” means fake or counterfeit; not genuine. In plain terms, fake, not real, or (informally) just plain unfair or lame.
How do you pronounce “bogus”?
“Bogus” is pronounced BOH-guhs (/ˈboʊ̯ɡəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “bogus” in a sentence?
Here is “bogus” used in a sentence: “The company was selling bogus designer handbags.”
What part of speech is “bogus”?
“Bogus” is an adjective.
Where does the word “bogus” come from?
The word “bogus” dates back to around 1800. First recorded in 19th-century America as underworld slang for a device used to make counterfeit coins, later broadening to mean anything fake or of poor quality.
Is “bogus” a common word?
“Bogus” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “bogus” have?
“Bogus” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: fake or counterfeit; not genuine.
