different between bogus vs hoax

English

Etymology

First attested as an underworld term for counterfeit coins. Later, the word was applied to anything of poor quality. The newest use to mean useless is probably from the slang of computer hackers.

The origin is unknown, but there are at least two theories that try to trace its origin:

• From Hausa boko (“to fake”). Since bogus first appeared in the United States, it may be possible that its ancestor was brought there on a slave ship.
• From criminal slang as a short form of tantrabogus, a 19th-century slang term for a menacing object, making some believe that bogus might be linked to bogy or bogey (see bogeyman). In this sense, Bogus might be related to Bogle – a traditional trickster from the Scottish Borders, noted for achieving acts of household trickery; confusing, but not usually damaging.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?b??.??s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?bo?.??s/
• Rhymes: -????s

Adjective

bogus (comparative more bogus, superlative most bogus)

1. Counterfeit or fake; not genuine.

   Synonyms: phony; see also Thesaurus:fake
2. Undesirable or harmful.
3. (computing, slang) Incorrect, useless, or broken.
4. (philately) Of a totally fictitious issue printed for collectors, often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country (not to be confused with forgery, which is an illegitimate copy of a genuine stamp).

   Synonym: illegal
5. Based on false or misleading information or unjustified assumptions.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

bogus (uncountable)

1. (US, dialect) A liquor made of rum and molasses.

Related terms

• calibogus

English

Etymology

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Reportedly a form of hocus. Possibly from hocus-pocus or Latin iocus (“joke”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /h??ks/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ho?ks/
• Rhymes: -??ks
• Homophone: hokes

Verb

hoax (third-person singular simple present hoaxes, present participle hoaxing, simple past and past participle hoaxed)

1. (transitive) To deceive (someone) by making them believe something that has been maliciously or mischievously fabricated.

Derived terms

• hoaxer
• hoaxster (rare)

Translations

Noun

hoax (plural hoaxes)

1. Anything deliberately intended to deceive or trick.

Synonyms

• (deliberately false story or report): canard

Derived terms

• (deliberately false story or report): hoaxical, Hoaxocaust

Translations