bona fide

adjective

bo·​na fide ˈbō-nə-ˌfīd  ˈbä- 

ˌbō-nə-ˈfī-dē,

-ˈfī-də

1

: neither specious nor counterfeit : genuine

has become a bona fide celebrity

2

: made with earnest intent : sincere

a bona fide proposal

3

law : made in good faith without fraud or deceit

a bona fide offer to buy a farm

Did you know?

Bona fide means "in good faith" in Latin. When applied to business deals and the like, it stresses the absence of fraud or deception. A bona fide sale of securities is an entirely aboveboard transaction. Outside of business and law, bona fide implies mere sincerity and earnestness. A bona fide promise is one that the person has every intention of keeping. A bona fide proposal of marriage is one made by a suitor who isn't kidding around. Bona fide also has the noun form bona fides; when someone asks about someone else's bona fides, it usually means evidence of their qualifications or achievements.

Synonyms

• authentic
• certifiable
• certified
• dinkum [Australian & New Zealand]
• echt
• genuine
• honest
• pukka
• pucka
• real
• right
• sure-enough
• true

Choose the Right Synonym for bona fide

authentic, genuine, bona fide mean being actually and exactly what is claimed.

authentic implies being fully trustworthy as according with fact

an authentic account of the perilous journey

; it can also stress painstaking or faithful imitation of an original.

an authentic reproduction

authentic Vietnamese cuisine

genuine implies actual character not counterfeited, imitated, or adulterated

genuine piety

genuine maple syrup

; it also connotes definite origin from a source.

a genuine Mark Twain autograph

bona fide implies good faith and sincerity of intention.

a bona fide offer for the stock

Examples of bona fide in a Sentence

She has established her position as a bona fide celebrity.

His latest record was a bona fide hit.

They have a bona fide claim for the loss.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Houston Cougars are currently ranked No. 4 in the country and a bona fide National Championship contender. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 26 Feb. 2025

Four bona fide bids advanced, including one from Lakeside Casino LLC, whose founding partner Michael Bond, the ex-state senator, had financed then-Mayor Sam Cunningham’s election campaign and helped elect several Waukegan City Council members as well. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025

The War Was Only The Beginning For Sergeant Stubby When the war ended in November 1918, Stubby returned home a bona fide war hero. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025

The move shows that Amazon is serious about turning its Prime streaming venture into a bona fide Hollywood business — and not just a way to sell more stuff. —Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, literally, in good faith

First Known Use

1732, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for bona fide

• actinide
• aldehyde
• alkoxide
• alongside
• amplified
• arsenide
• beautified
• biocide
• butoxide
• calcified
• ceramide
• certified

Kids Definition

bona fide

adjective

bo·​na fide ˈbō-nə-ˌfīd  ˈbä-nə- 

ˌbō-nə-ˈfīd-ē,

-ˈfīd-ə

1

: made or done in good faith

bona fide offer

2

: made with earnest intent : sincere

3

: genuine sense 1

a bona fide cowboy

Etymology

from Latin bona fide, literally, "in good faith"; bona from bonus "good" and fide from fides "faith" — related to bonus, faith

Legal Definition

bona fide

adjective

bo·​na fide ˈbō-nə-ˌfīd, ˈbä-nə-; ˌbō-nə-ˈfī-dē, -ˈfī-də 

1

a

: characterized by good faith and lack of fraud or deceit

a bona fide offer

b

: valid under or in compliance with the law

retirement incentives made part of a bona fide employee benefit plan

2

: made with or characterized by sincerity

a bona fide belief

3

: being real or genuine

bona fide residents

Etymology

Latin, in good faith