# bogan

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈboʊɡən/ · frequency rank #49,797

## Definitions
1. An unsophisticated person from a working class background.
2. An Anglo-Celtic member of a lower socioeconomic group, stereotypically classified as wearing black jumpers or black concert T-shirts.
3. A petrolhead.

## Etymology
Unknown. First appeared in Australia in the 1980s. Possibly in reference to supposedly unsophisticated people from remote outback places such as the Bogan River or Bogan Gate (cf. dubbo from Dubbo).

## Easily confused with
- **BON** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-bon)
- **born** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-born)
- **boon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-boon)
- **bran** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-bran)
- **bona** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-bona)
- **Bonn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-bonn)
- **bora** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-bora)
- **bola** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-bola)
- **Brian** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-brian)
- **Bryan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-bryan)
- **Bowen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-bowen)
- **bogus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-bogus)
- **Busan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-busan)
- **bogey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-bogey)
- **boron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-boron)
- **boson** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-boson)
- **bowman** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-bowman)
- **botany** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-botany)
- **bogart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-bogart)
- **Boland** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bogan-vs-boland)

## Common misspellings (7)
`bbogan`, `bgoan`, `boagn`, `bogann`, `boggan`, `bogna`, `obgan`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bogan