<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000859737-07-000024
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20071116
<FILING-DATE>20071119
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20071119
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>HOLOGIC INC
<CIK>0000859737
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3844
<IRS-NUMBER>042902449
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>35 CROSBY DRIVE
<CITY>BEDFORD
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01730
<PHONE>7819997300
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>35 CROSBY DRIVE
<CITY>BEDFORD
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01730
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>PEKARSKY JOHN R
<CIK>0001190292
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-18281
<FILM-NUMBER>071255867
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>7819997300
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>35 CROSBY DRIVE
<CITY>BEDFORD
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01730
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-11-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000859737</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HOLOGIC INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HOLX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190292</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PEKARSKY JOHN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>35 CROSBY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEDFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01730</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>382</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1655</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John Pekarsky</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
