noun
- an imaginary evil spirit or monster used to frighten children
Usage: also spelled ‘bogeyman’
Examples
- The child was afraid the bogyman would come out from under the bed.
- Parents shouldn’t use the bogyman to scare children into behaving.
- She checked the closet to prove there was no bogyman hiding inside.
- The bogyman is just a made-up creature from scary stories.
- He had nightmares about the bogyman chasing him through dark hallways.