bona fide

American  

[boh-nuh fahyd, bon-uh, boh-nuh fahy-dee] / ˈboʊ nə ˌfaɪd, ˈbɒn ə, ˈboʊ nə ˈfaɪ di /

Or bona-fide

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

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bona fide British  

adjective

1. real or genuine

   a bona fide manuscript

2. undertaken in good faith

   a bona fide agreement

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noun

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

bona fide Cultural  

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

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Usage

See bona fides.

Etymology

Origin of bona fide

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. )

Example Sentences

This Argentina team have bona fide stars, a passionate heart and the ability to beat anyone if they get into their groove.

From BBC

After selling his Hollywood Hills home and liquidating his assets, he moved in with James, the one he first followed to L.A., and became a bona fide family man.

From Los Angeles Times

“Our sense is that the concept of data being central is translating from a theory to practice as it becomes a bona fide gating factor to effective AI adoption,” he wrote.

From Barron's

What was missing, however, was another bona fide ace; the kind capable of swinging postseason series and transforming October fortunes.

From Los Angeles Times

Posts enable control over what we portray to others, and enhanced Photoshopping capabilities mean that pictures found online may not be bona fide anyway.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• genuine
• legitimate