bogey

1 of 3

noun (1)

bo·​gey

variants or less commonly bogie or bogy

plural bogeys also bogies

1

ˈbu̇-gē  ˈbō-  ˈbü-  : specter, phantom

2

ˈbō-gē 

also

ˈbu̇- 

or

ˈbü-  : a source of fear, perplexity, or harassment

3

\ ˈbō-​gē \ 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

4

ˈbō-gē  : a numerical standard of performance set up as a mark to be aimed at especially in competition

5

ˈbō-gē  : an unidentified aircraft

especially : one not positively identified as friendly and so assumed to be hostile

bogey

2 of 3

verb

bo·​gey ˈbō-gē 

bogeyed; bogeying

transitive verb

: to shoot (a hole in golf) in one over par

bogey

3 of 3

noun (2)

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 of bogey

Noun (1)

• dread
• terror
• bugaboo
• enemy
• bugbear
• plague

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 Web

Noun

Young was eight shots behind at the start and shot a 65, which included a bogey on the par-5 15th when his wedge came up short and rolled back into the water. —Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026

Young birdied eight holes to go along with a bogey on the par-5 15th after going water. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026

Verb

Fifteen years ago, in an epic unraveling, McIlroy saw a four-shot Sunday lead evaporate with a collapse at Amen Corner — triple bogey, bogey, double bogey on holes 11, 12 and 13. —Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026

But McIlroy struggled on the back nine, going in the water on 11 for a double bogey, while also bogeying 12 and 18. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably alteration of bogle

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1897, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bogey

• double bogey
• triple bogey

Rhymes for bogey

• yogi
• muscogee

Kids Definition

bogey

noun

bo·​gey

variants also bogy or bogie

plural bogeys also bogies

1

ˈbu̇g-ē, 

ˈbō-gē, 

ˈbü-gē

: ghost, phantom

2

ˈbō-gē

also ˈbu̇g-ē

or ˈbü-gē

: something one is afraid of especially without reason