bogey

1 of 3

noun (1)

bo·​gey
variants or less commonly bogie or bogy
plural bogeys also bogies
1
2
ˈbō-gē How to pronounce bogey (audio)
also
ˈbu̇- How to pronounce bogey (audio)
or
ˈbü- How to pronounce bogey (audio)
: a source of fear, perplexity, or harassment
3
\ ˈbō-​gē How to pronounce bogey (audio) \ 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 How to pronounce bogey (audio) : a numerical standard of performance set up as a mark to be aimed at especially in competition
5
ˈbō-gē How to pronounce bogey (audio) : 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 How to pronounce bogey (audio)
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)

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In fact, Citigroup, while expecting a below-consensus 2.6% GDP pace, sees the inflation gauge hitting the 2% bogey for the quarter, a figure that could help cement a quarter-point reduction in the Fed’s benchmark lending rate when policymakers meet next week. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2024 The defending Olympic champion bogeyed the first hole at Le Golf National with further bogeys following at holes four and seven. NBC News, 8 Aug. 2024
Verb
In the same year former Alabama amateur Nick Dunlap won a PGA Tour event for the first time in 26 years, Clanton had a share of the lead on the 18th hole before finding a bunker and bogeying the hole to finish T2. Brody Miller, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024 Having bogeyed the third, McIlroy triple bogeyed the following par-five hole before back-to-back bogeys. Jack Bantock, CNN, 19 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for bogey 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably alteration of bogle

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bogey was in 1826

Dictionary Entries Near bogey

Cite this Entry

“Bogey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bogey. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on bogey

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