: not genuine : counterfeit, sham
a bogus claim
The evidence was completely bogus.
bogusly
adverb
bogusness
noun
Did you know?
Bogus Has a Long History
In the early 19th century, a "bogus" was a machine used to make counterfeit coins. No one knows for sure how this coin-copying contraption got its name, but before long bogus became a name for funny money or for a fraudulent imitation of any kind. The more common "phony" adjective followed.
Examples of bogus in a Sentence
It was just a bogus claim.
The evidence was completely bogus.
Recent Examples on the Web
But Carrie’s dad also went on television to promote bogus medical devices and dubious supplements and made videos advancing pseudoscientific theories to sell his wares.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Some of the excuses are legitimate but many are bogus.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
Another defendant, Salim Said — a 36-year-old who oversaw one of the bogus kitchens — was convicted of 20 counts, also including wire fraud and bribery.
—David A. Fahrenthold, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Related article Extreme volatility sends US stocks on a roller coaster ride as Wall Street is rattled by tariffs
The jolt into positive territory was short-lived — a spark of hope kindled by a bogus rumor that Trump was weighing a three-month delay on tariffs.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bogus
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Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Some of the excuses are legitimate but many are bogus.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
Another defendant, Salim Said — a 36-year-old who oversaw one of the bogus kitchens — was convicted of 20 counts, also including wire fraud and bribery.
—David A. Fahrenthold, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Related article Extreme volatility sends US stocks on a roller coaster ride as Wall Street is rattled by tariffs
The jolt into positive territory was short-lived — a spark of hope kindled by a bogus rumor that Trump was weighing a three-month delay on tariffs.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bogus
Cite this Entry
“Bogus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bogus. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bogus
adjective
bo·gus
ˈbō-gəs 
: not genuine : counterfeit, sham
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