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

The issue of how and whether to teach about the conflict has also divided Jewish families, most notably in Berkeley, where some residents reject claims of unchecked antisemitism and consider the federal complaint a bogus effort to keep Muslim and Arab voices silenced. —Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024

Business Column: The bogus, homophobic campaign against Biden’s stellar FCC nominee Feb. 3, 2023 Until Thursday, the state laws functioned as bulwarks against net neutrality abuses by ISPs. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

obsolete argot bogus counterfeit money

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

bogus

adjective

bo·​gus ˈbō-gəs 

: not genuine : counterfeit, sham