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

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

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Whereas America’s litigious culture forces bona fide compliance with national and international law, Chinese companies are rife with fraud and theatrics.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And for a while, the spell works, largely thanks to Johnson, who has essentially spent his entire career — from WWE wrestler to bona fide movie star — preparing for a role like this.

Read more on Salon

But he wants to do so as a bona fide October ace, the kind of anchor of a pitching staff that can get deeper into outings.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Carr has also suggested reviewing whether ABC’s The View qualifies as a “bona fide news program,” exempt from equal-time rules, a move that has raised concerns among media watchdogs about overreach and inconsistent enforcement.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• genuine 
• legitimate