Bogus

adjective. 'Bogus' describes something that is not genuine or authentic; it's fake, counterfeit, or fraudulent. It implies an intent to deceive or mislead by presenting something as real or valid when it is not. This term is commonly used in informal contexts to denote that something is of poor quality, valueless, or simply untrue. The implication is that the item, document, or claim is not what it purports to be and should not be trusted. The word carries a strong connotation of deceit.

Bogus meaning with examples

• The detective immediately recognized the twenty-dollar bill as bogus, noting the blurry printing and unnatural feel of the paper, instantly alerting him to the potential of a counterfeit operation.
• Her excuse for missing the deadline seemed bogus; she claimed a sudden internet outage, but her social media had been active all day, immediately sparking suspicion and distrust.
• He tried to pass off his neighbor's research as his own, but the professor quickly identified it as bogus due to differences in writing style and the source material that had already been taught in class.
• The advertisement promised miraculous weight loss with no effort, but the before-and-after photos appeared doctored, making the entire claim seem utterly bogus and incredibly irresponsible.