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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.
Synonyms
Examples of bogus in a Sentence
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2024
While the bogus science of eugenics — the idea that the human race can be improved through selective reproduction — has been nearly universally discredited, remnants of this belief system are still alive and well in modern research.
—Patrick Skerrett, STAT, 3 July 2024
Seven Arizonans, including four accused of preying on elderly patients with bogus wound care, were among 193 people charged with health care fraud in a recent sweep, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
—Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 29 June 2024
Investigators later identified the bogus cop as Ogrady.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 29 June 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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Cite this Entry
“Bogus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bogus. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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bogus
adjective
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