bog

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈbäg 

ˈbȯg

geography : wet spongy ground

especially : a poorly drained usually acid area rich in accumulated plant material, frequently surrounding a body of open water, and having a characteristic flora (as of sedges, heaths, and sphagnum)

bog

2 of 3

verb

bogged; bogging

transitive verb

: to cause to sink into or as if into a bog (see bog entry 1) : impede, mire

—usually used with down

a car that had gotten bogged down in the mud

easy to get bogged down in the details

intransitive verb

: to become impeded or stuck

—usually used with down

Extra demand can cause the system to bog down.

bog

3 of 3

noun (2)

British

: lavatory sense 2

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• fen
• marsh
• marshland
• mire
• moor
• morass
• muskeg
• slough
• slew
• slue
• swamp
• swampland
• wash
• wetland

Noun (2)

• bath
• bathroom
• can
• cloakroom [British]
• comfort station
• convenience [chiefly British]
• head
• john
• latrine
• lavatory
• loo [chiefly British]
• potty
• restroom
• toilet
• washroom
• water closet

Examples of bog in a Sentence

Noun (1)

got a shoe stuck in the bog

Noun (2)

they're out of paper in the bog again

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The area surrounding the site is a forested area with swamps and bogs, similar to an environment found in Alaska. —Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025

For example, scientists have measured it in European peat bogs, lake sediments, and, rarely, in human remains such as tooth enamel. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025

Verb

This sad and sublimely beautiful movie, however, refuses to bog itself down in pessimism. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2025

This bogs the storyline down during the production’s early build-ups and a too slow wind down. —Christopher Smith, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English (Scots), from Scottish Gaelic & Irish bog- (as in bogluachair bulrushes), from bog marshy, literally, soft, from Middle Irish bocc; probably akin to Old English būgan to bend — more at bow

Noun (2)

short for boghouse, from British argot bog to defecate

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1599, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

circa 1789, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bog

• bog asphodel
• bog bilberry
• bog blueberry
• bog down
• bog paper
• bog-standard

Rhymes for bog

• blog
• clog
• cog
• dog
• flog
• fog
• frog
• grog
• hog
• jog
• log
• og

Kids Definition

bog

1 of 2 noun

ˈbäg 

ˈbȯg

: wet spongy ground

especially : a poorly drained acid area in which dead plant matter accumulates and sphagnum grows in abundance

boggy

-ē 

adjective

bog

2 of 2 verb

bogged; bogging

: to sink or become stuck in or as if in a bog

get bogged down in too much detail