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Bogus Has a Long History
In the early 19th century, a "bogus" was a machine used to make counterfeit coins. No one knows for sure how this coin-copying contraption got its name, but before long bogus became a name for funny money or for a fraudulent imitation of any kind. The more common "phony" adjective followed.
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Examples of bogus in a Sentence
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
The bogus plates also allow drivers to avoid paying insurance, registration fees and taxes.
—Michael Corkery, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bogus 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bogus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Bogus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bogus. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
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bogus
adjective
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