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; see also bona fides ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bona fide

In Arkansas, all it took was a few clicks on the Arkansas secretary of state website, $45 and an American flag to form a bona fide private school with the Arkansas Times.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

To the contrary, it has always been the case that any bona fide journalist can get a hard pass, so long as they can get the security clearance from the White House.

From Slate ● Sep. 30, 2026

Willetts describes it as the first bona fide nightlife zone in history and likens Yoshiwara to an “Orwellian Coachella.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

Every new nation requires a new set of legends, and in the U.S. these were provided by Washington Irving, “America’s first bona fide best-selling author,” in the words of one biographer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

She studied him, not ready to believe that this boy was a bona fide hero.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• genuine
• legitimate