different between bogus vs unreal

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

un- +? real

Pronunciation

• enPR: ?n-r?l', IPA^(key): /?n??i.?l/
• Rhymes: -i??l

Adjective

unreal (comparative more unreal, superlative most unreal)

1. fake; not real
   • 1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

     "The Boy's Uncle made me Real," he said. "That was a great many years ago; but once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always."

2. (informal) very impressive; amazing; unbelievable; incredible; larger or more fantastic than typical of real life.

   The video includes unreal footage of an eight-metre wave.

   I just had an unreal hamburger.

Synonyms

• (not real): See also Thesaurus:fake or Thesaurus:insubstantial
• (very impressive): See also Thesaurus:awesome

Antonyms

• (not real): real; See also Thesaurus:genuine

Translations

Anagrams

• Lauren, neural, ulnare