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

But a sluggish start quickly derailed his round, as bogeys on two of his first three holes dropped him behind the cut line. — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

After opened 63-64 without a bogey, the 46-year-old Glover had an eagle, two birdies and two bogeys at Hurstbourne Country Club. — ABC News, 11 July 2026

Verb

Starting the third round 11 shots out of the lead, Fowler bogeyed his last hole and still shot 63 to get within five shots. — ABC News, 4 July 2026

Hovland’s 6-foot, 4-inch putt, coupled with Scheffler’s bogey on the same hole, sent him into the clubhouse with the 54-hole lead at 20-under. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 27 June 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