1-Stop Dictionary Reference

Bogeyman

Acceptable For Game Play - US & UK word lists

This word is acceptable for play in the US & UK dictionaries that are being used in the following games:

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

n. A terrifying specter; a hobgoblin.

Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

n. A menacing, ghost-like monster in children's stories.

n. Any make-believe threat, especially one used to intimidate or distract.

the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English

n. A goblin; a bugbear; a bogey{1}. This is the form used by parents to frighten children.

WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

n. an imaginary monster used to frighten children

Word Usage

"The term "bogeyman" seems to have come from the Welsh "bwg" spirit and the word "bug" was applied to insects because of the belief that insects were souls in search of rebirth."

Hypernym

Words that are more generic or abstract

monster

Cross Reference

bugbear

Variant

bogey{1}

Synonym

Words with the same meaning

bogey goblin bugbear

Same Context

Words that are found in similar contexts

bogeymen teocalli raptors war-club stringless pickpocket cat's-paw assenting terry-cloth trippy