bogey

¹ American  

[boh-gee, boog-ee, boo-gee] / ˈboʊ gi, ˈbʊg i, ˈbu gi /

noun

plural

bogeys

1. Golf.

   1. a score of one stroke over par on a hole.

   2. par.

2. bogy.

3. Military. Also bogy, bogie an unidentified aircraft or missile, especially one detected as a blip on a radar screen.

4. bogie.

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verb (used with object)

bogeyed, bogeying

1. Golf. to make a bogey on (a hole).

   Arnold Palmer bogeyed the 18th hole.

bogey ² American  

[boh-gee] / ˈboʊ gi /

noun

plural

bogeys

1. a swim; bathe.

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verb (used without object)

bogeyed, bogeying

1. to swim; bathe.

bogey ³ American  

[boh-gee] / ˈboʊ gi /

verb (used with or without object)

bogeyed, bogeying,

plural

bogeys

1. bogart.

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bogey ¹ British  

/ ˈbəʊɡɪ /

noun

1. an evil or mischievous spirit

2. something that worries or annoys

3. golf

   1. a score of one stroke over par on a hole Compare par

   2. obsolete a standard score for a hole or course, regarded as one that a good player should make

4. slang a piece of dried mucus discharged from the nose

5. slang air force an unidentified or hostile aircraft

6. slang a detective; policeman

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verb

1. (tr) golf to play (a hole) in one stroke over par

bogey ² British  

/ ˈbəʊɡɪ /

verb

1. to bathe or swim

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noun

1. a bathe or swim

Etymology

Origin of bogey¹

First recorded in 1890–95; spelling variant of bogy ²

Origin of bogey²

First recorded in 1845–50; from Dharuk, equivalent to bū- “bathe” + -gi past tense marker

Origin of bogey³

First recorded in 1985–90; in reference to Bogey or Bogie , nickname of Humphrey Bogart

Example Sentences

All that homework helped him escape from trouble with a just bogey on Sunday’s 18th hole—and what put him atop the leaderboard in the first place.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

His hopes looked like they were fading further on Sunday with a double bogey and bogey in the first six holes, but McIlroy rallied and started to work his way back up the leaderboard.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

After McIlroy paced the Masters by six strokes entering Saturday, he fell out of the lead for a moment after the reigning champion carded a double bogey then a bogey on consecutive holes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

He started Sunday with a sputter, including a double bogey on the par-three fourth and a bogey shortly after.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Heroes and bogey men, values and dislikes, are first encountered and labeled in that early environment.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou