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bona fide
adjective
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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, genuine, bona fide mean being actually and exactly what is claimed.
authentic implies being fully trustworthy as according with fact
; it can also stress painstaking or faithful imitation of an original.
genuine implies actual character not counterfeited, imitated, or adulterated
; it also connotes definite origin from a source.
bona fide implies good faith and sincerity of intention.
Examples of bona fide in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bona fide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Latin, literally, in good faith
1632, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Dictionary Entries Near bona fide
Cite this Entry
“Bona fide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bona%20fide. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
bona fide
adjectiveLegal Definition
bona fide
adjectiveLatin, in good faith
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