: 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
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
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
See All Example Sentences for bogus
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Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for bogus
Cite this Entry
“Bogus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bogus. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bogus
adjective
bo·gus
ˈbō-gəs 
: not genuine : counterfeit, sham
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