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

Anyone who isn't a bona fide sociopath will find this depiction (and several others!) of physical and psychological torture to be deeply disturbing. —Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Not just fringe players, but bona fide stars and impact types. —Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

From 1935 to 1938, Temple was the biggest box office draw in the world, filling more seats in theaters than leading man Clark Gable and bona fide superstars like Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo. —Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 28 Mar. 2025

Time magazine, after all, has turned its Person of the Year and Time 100 list as bona fide franchises, and has had success pushing into film and TV production. —Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 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