Word: bogus (adjective)

Associations

"Bogus" means something that is not real, fake, or false. It is often used to describe things that are pretending to be genuine but are actually wrong or dishonest.

• A bogus document. This means a fake paper that looks real but is not official.
• Bogus claims. These are false statements someone makes to trick others.
• A bogus product. This means a product that is not what it says it is, maybe poor quality or fake.

Synonym: fake. The difference is that "bogus" often suggests dishonesty or trickery, while "fake" is more general and can mean just not real.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• fake (e.g., fake ID instead of bogus ID)
• false (e.g., false information)
• counterfeit (usually for money or goods)
• phony (informal, means not real or genuine)

Each word can change the tone a little. For example, "phony" is more casual and sometimes humorous.

Deconstruction

The word "bogus" comes from American English in the 19th century. It may have originated from slang used by counterfeiters or from a word meaning "scarecrow" or "decoy," something that looks real but is not.

There is no prefix or suffix here; it is a simple adjective.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you found out something was bogus? What was it?
• How would you explain to a friend that a deal or offer is bogus?
• Are there any products or services you are careful about because they might be bogus? Why?