(bogeymen)
Note: The spellings 'bogey man', and in American English 'boogeyman' are also used.
1.
A ~ is someone whose ideas or actions are disapproved of by some people, and who is described by them as evil or unpleasant in order to make other people afraid. (mainly BRIT)
The media depict him as a left-wing ~.
= monster
N-COUNT: usu with supp disapproval
2.
A ~ is an imaginary evil spirit. Some parents tell their children that the ~ will catch them if they behave badly.
N-COUNT: oft the N