bo·gey
variants
or less commonly bogie
or bogy
plural bogeys also bogies
2
ˈbō-gē,
also ˈbu̇-,
or
ˈbü- 
: a source of fear, perplexity, or harassment
3
\
ˈbō-gē 
\ golf
\ golf
a
: one stroke over par on a hole
made a bogey on the second hole
b
chiefly British, dated
: an average golfer's score used as a standard for a particular hole or course
He was the sort of player who does the first two holes in one under bogey and then takes an eleven at the third.—
P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse4
ˈbō-gē
: a numerical standard of performance set up as a mark to be aimed at especially in competition
: a numerical standard of performance set up as a mark to be aimed at especially in competition
5
ˈbō-gē
: an unidentified aircraft
: an unidentified aircraft
especially
: one not positively identified as friendly and so assumed to be hostile
bogeyed; bogeying
: to shoot (a hole in golf) in one over par
bo·gey
less common spelling of bogie entry 1
1
: a low strongly built cart
2
a
chiefly British
: a swiveling railway truck
b
: the driving-wheel assembly consisting of the rear four wheels of a 6-wheel automotive truck
3
: a small supporting or aligning wheel (as on the inside perimeter of a tank tread)
Synonyms
Examples of bogey in a Sentence
Noun (1)
He made a bogey on the second hole.
He made bogey on the second hole.
Verb
She birdied the first hole but bogeyed the second hole.
Recent Examples on the WebSportsday Staff, Dallas News, 21 July 2023
Ward, who made just one bogey all week, closes with 13 consecutive pars to match Kelly Robbins’ LPGA record for the lowest 72-hole total.
2012 — Homer Bailey of the Cincinnati Reds throws the season’s seventh no-hitter, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023
The Englishman had three birdies on the front nine and another on the second, along with a bogey on each side of the turn.
—Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 20 July 2023
Her impressive third round included six birdies — four on the front nine — and one bogey.
—Jodom, oregonlive, 26 Aug. 2023
Johnson’s bogey on 17 opened the door a bit for Matthew, who was one shot behind and had birdied the 18th hole both Thursday and Friday.
—Jodom, oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2023
Thomas’ scorecard on Thursday also had two birdies, five bogeys and two double bogeys.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 20 July 2023
Other notables who are having a tough time include Bryson DeChambeau, who had two bogeys and a double bogey during his first 10 holes of play.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 20 July 2023
Hull couldn’t keep the pressure on, buckling with bogeys on Nos. 15 and 17 — the latter after a protester walked onto the green and opened a canister filled with purple spray.
—Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2023
Jodom, oregonlive, 25 Aug. 2023
Choi played in the group in front of him and bogeyed the last, giving Stricker a two-shot lead and room for error.
—Associated Press, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Sep. 2023
His lead held until Kingsland tied the match with a birdie on the par-3 12th while James bogeyed.
—From Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2023
But this time Matthew bogeyed and fell to third place, while Johnson finished with a par to finally nab a USGA victory.
—Jodom, oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2023
Both bogeyed the par-4 18th handing James the win and a Round of 16 match later Thursday against David Ford of Peachtree, Ga., the 28th seed.
—From Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2023
The closest that anyone came to catching Hodges came on the 71st hole, when J.T. Poston got within three of the lead when Hodges bogeyed the par 3.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 30 July 2023
But then Stricker bogeyed No. 6 and No. 9 – where his temper flashed after hacking out of the rough following an offline tee shot.
—Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 30 June 2023
Emiliano Grillo stays hot to close impressive first round to claim co-lead
After bogeying two of his first three holes of the day, Argentinian pro Emiliano Grillo was the best player the rest of the way.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 20 July 2023
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Noun
Tom Hoge Hoge, a TCU product, shot 4-over on Friday, including five bogeys on the back nine.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas News, 21 July 2023
Ward, who made just one bogey all week, closes with 13 consecutive pars to match Kelly Robbins’ LPGA record for the lowest 72-hole total.
2012 — Homer Bailey of the Cincinnati Reds throws the season’s seventh no-hitter, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023
The Englishman had three birdies on the front nine and another on the second, along with a bogey on each side of the turn.
—Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 20 July 2023
Her impressive third round included six birdies — four on the front nine — and one bogey.
—Jodom, oregonlive, 26 Aug. 2023
Johnson’s bogey on 17 opened the door a bit for Matthew, who was one shot behind and had birdied the 18th hole both Thursday and Friday.
—Jodom, oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2023
Thomas’ scorecard on Thursday also had two birdies, five bogeys and two double bogeys.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 20 July 2023
Other notables who are having a tough time include Bryson DeChambeau, who had two bogeys and a double bogey during his first 10 holes of play.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 20 July 2023
Hull couldn’t keep the pressure on, buckling with bogeys on Nos. 15 and 17 — the latter after a protester walked onto the green and opened a canister filled with purple spray.
—Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2023
Verb
Matthew bogeyed two holes on the front nine, but then picked up four birdies and just one bogey on the back nine.
—Jodom, oregonlive, 25 Aug. 2023
Choi played in the group in front of him and bogeyed the last, giving Stricker a two-shot lead and room for error.
—Associated Press, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Sep. 2023
His lead held until Kingsland tied the match with a birdie on the par-3 12th while James bogeyed.
—From Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2023
But this time Matthew bogeyed and fell to third place, while Johnson finished with a par to finally nab a USGA victory.
—Jodom, oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2023
Both bogeyed the par-4 18th handing James the win and a Round of 16 match later Thursday against David Ford of Peachtree, Ga., the 28th seed.
—From Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2023
The closest that anyone came to catching Hodges came on the 71st hole, when J.T. Poston got within three of the lead when Hodges bogeyed the par 3.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 30 July 2023
But then Stricker bogeyed No. 6 and No. 9 – where his temper flashed after hacking out of the rough following an offline tee shot.
—Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 30 June 2023
Emiliano Grillo stays hot to close impressive first round to claim co-lead
After bogeying two of his first three holes of the day, Argentinian pro Emiliano Grillo was the best player the rest of the way.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 20 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bogey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing bogey
Dictionary Entries Near bogey
Cite this Entry
“Bogey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bogey. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on bogey
Nglish: Translation of bogey for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of bogey for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bogey
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