bona fide

or bona-fide

[ boh-nuh fahyd, bon-uh; boh-nuh fahy-dee ]

adjective

1. made, done, presented, etc., in good faith; without deception or fraud:

   a bona fide statement of intent to sell.

   Synonyms: legal, lawful, sincere, honest

   Antonyms: deceitful

2. authentic; true:

   a bona fide sample of Lincoln's handwriting.

   Synonyms: genuine

   Antonyms: false, spurious

bona fide

adjective

1. real or genuine

   a bona fide manuscript

2. undertaken in good faith

   a bona fide agreement

noun

1. informal.
   a public house licensed to remain open after normal hours to serve bona fide travellers

bona fide

1. Genuine: “The offer was a bona fide business opportunity: they really meant to carry it through.” From Latin , meaning “in good faith.”

Usage Note

See bona fides.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bona fide¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin bonā fidē “in good faith, with good faith,” ablative singular of (nominative singular) bona fidēs; bona fides ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of bona fide¹

C16: from Latin

Example Sentences

He turned its blue ticks - which previously denoted that a high-profile account was bona fide - into a subscription model, and tied advertising payments to "verified" users to the number of interactions they receive.

From BBC

Months after sporting a fake baby belly in the music video for Machine Gun Kelly and Jelly Roll’s “Lonely Road,” Megan Fox is showing off her bona fide bump.

From Los Angeles Times

An early, short-lived marriage to Frank Sinatra thrust her into the glaring spotlight, and then “Rosemary’s Baby” turned her into a bona fide movie star.

From Los Angeles Times

He serves up a series of theories for admitting the incendiary proof of Trump’s alleged weeks-long campaign to browbeat Pence into violating the Constitution and disregarding bona fide electoral votes for Joe Biden.

From Los Angeles Times

Kerry, a bona fide war hero, ran against President George W. Bush.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• genuine
• legitimate