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

Coming off a 29-6 record and their first Elite Eight appearance since 1994, the Trojans enter the season with a rare mix: returning veterans, seven freshmen, a bona fide star in Watkins and two graduate transfer stalwarts of the Pac-12’s past: former Stanford forward Kiki Iriafen and Oregon State guard Talia von Oelhoffen.

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

Those backing Jenrick insist his right-wing credentials are bona fide.

From BBC

Related Words

• genuine
• legitimate