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Synonyms

bogus

American  
[boh-guhs] / ˈboʊ gəs /

adjective

  1. not genuine; counterfeit; spurious; sham.

    Synonyms:
    phony, fake, pseudo, fraudulent

noun

  1. Printing, Journalism. matter set, by union requirement, by a compositor and later discarded, duplicating the text of an advertisement for which a plate has been supplied or type set by another publisher.

bogus British  
/ ˈbəʊɡəs /

adjective

  1. spurious or counterfeit; not genuine

    a bogus note
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • bogusly adverb
  • bogusness noun

Etymology

Origin of bogus

1825–30, originally an apparatus for coining false money; perhaps akin to bogy 1

Explanation

Bogus means fake. A bogus dollar bill is counterfeit, a bogus Picasso was not painted by him, and a bogus attempt at reconciliation would come from someone who never intended to end a fight. The word bogus originated in the U.S. It was coined as a name for a machine that printed counterfeit money and later became a trademark term among California surfers. In surfer speak, "totally bogus, dude" would describe any unfortunate situation.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing bogus

Fake It 'Til You Make It: Synonyms for "False"

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Smoke and Mirrors: The Lingo of Illusion and Deception

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

100 SAT Words Beginning with "B"

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The bogus connection to the Middle East did.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

They are charged with conspiracy and insurance fraud for allegedly submitting bogus claims to Medi-Cal for Cherish Hospice Inc., Emanuel Hospice and Azure Hospice Care Inc., according to a criminal complaint.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Another bogus claim is that senior citizens have to enroll or pay a processing fee to get the new $6,000 deduction.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Clint Patterson says his mother privately confirmed his suspicions that the family’s claim to fame was bogus, but he kept quiet to protect their financial stream.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

But the tyrant who had seized power was jealous of anyone with education and money, and so Papito was often sent out of the country on a bogus diplomatic post.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.