bogus

adjective

bo·​gus ˈbō-gəs 

: 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.

Synonyms

• artificial
• dummy
• ersatz
• factitious
• fake
• false
• faux
• imitation
• imitative
• man-made
• mimic
• mock
• pretend
• sham
• simulated
• substitute
• synthetic

Examples of bogus in a Sentence

It was just a bogus claim.

The evidence was completely bogus.

Recent Examples on the Web

But then, Johnson was asked what exactly was bogus about the NFLPA report card. —Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2025

There have been plenty of demonstrations of the inefficiency of Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), from having to rehire workers to being forced to admit claims of vast savings were bogus. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025

Alarming pop-ups or fake scans create panic, urging victims to buy bogus antivirus tools or share personal info. —Alex Vakulov, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025

Sometimes, these trailers go viral enough to warrant press coverage, with the bogus Bond trailer prompting headlines in both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

obsolete argot bogus counterfeit money

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

bogus

adjective

bo·​gus ˈbō-gəs 

: not genuine : counterfeit, sham