bona fides

[boh-nuh fahy-deez, boh-nuh-fahydz, boh-nah fee-des]

noun

1. (italics),  good faith; absence of fraud or deceit; the state of being exactly as claims or appearances indicate.

   The bona fides of this contract is open to question.

2. (sometimes italics),  the official papers, documents, or other items that prove authenticity, legitimacy, etc., as of a person or enterprise; credentials.

   All our bona fides are on file with the SEC.

bona fides

/ ˈbəʊnə ˈfaɪdiːz /

noun

1. law good faith; honest intention

Usage

Bona fides is from the singular Latin phrase bona fidēs , meaning “good faith,” and has the same meaning in English. But partially because its -es ending makes bona fides look and sound like a plural, it has developed the plural sense “credentials.” This plural use, although criticized by some usage guides, has been increasing in all varieties of speech and writing. The adjective bona fide (without the “s”) is from a Latin phrase meaning “in good faith, with good faith.” It was originally used adverbially in this sense, but is now mainly an adjective. The meaning “authentic, true” is a later development sometimes denounced as sloppy usage, but its use is bona fide and widespread.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bona fides¹

First recorded in 1835–40; from Latin bona fidēs “good faith”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bona fides¹

Latin

Example Sentences

In other words, there are simply not many other Times columnists with the bona fides necessary to induce a shockingly candid Peter Thiel into admitting that he might be less committed to the survival of the human race than the rest of us are.

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But, considering Netflix’s own right-wing bona fides, will this actually lead to an ideological protest on par with the Disney+/Hulu cancellations that spurred the reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel’s show?

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As in Chiles’ case, there were open questions about Smith’s bona fides: When she filed her lawsuit in federal court in 2016, she was not in the business of creating any wedding websites, regardless of the composition of the couple, which made her asserted “injury” speculative at best.

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But, he argued, he was the only candidate who could win the election because of his ability to siphon off Democratic votes because of his law enforcement bona fides.

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In the mob world, “making your bones” is shorthand for establishing your bona fides.

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Related Words

• candor 
• earnestness 
• frankness 
• genuineness 
• goodwill 
• impartiality 
• probity 
• reliability 
• seriousness 
• trustworthiness 
• truth 
• truthfulness www.thesaurus.com
• veracity