bogus

adjective

bo·​gus ˈbō-gəs 

: not genuine : counterfeit, sham

a bogus claim

The evidence was completely bogus.

bogusly adverb

bogusness noun

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms

• artificial
• dummy
• ersatz
• factitious
• fake
• false
• faux
• imitation
• imitative
• man-made
• mimic
• mock
• pretend
• sham
• simulated
• substitute
• synthetic

Examples of bogus in a Sentence

It was just a bogus claim.

The evidence was completely bogus.

Recent Examples on the Web

For obvious copyright reasons, that version has been virtually scrubbed from the internet, which feels bogus because chopping up any- and everything is tradition in bounce, but that’s just part of the challenge the genre faces in the streaming era. —Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 2 May 2025

This can result in what may appear to be a bogus message. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025

These bogus roles spanned every level, from entry-level positions to executive-level openings. —Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

The trailer, which Frankensteins together fleeting AI shots with legitimate footage from the Superman trailer released in December, is one of countless bogus movie teasers to have flooded YouTube in recent years. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

obsolete argot bogus counterfeit money

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bogus

adjective

bo·​gus ˈbō-gəs 

: not genuine : counterfeit, sham