bona fide
or bona-fide
[ boh-nuh fahyd, bon-uh; boh-nuh fahy-dee ]
/ ˈboʊ nə ˌfaɪd, ˈbɒn ə; ˈboʊ nə ˈfaɪ di /
adjective
made, done, presented, etc., in good faith; without deception or fraud: a bona fide statement of intent to sell.
authentic; true: a bona fide sample of Lincoln's handwriting.
Origin of bona fide
First recorded in 1935–45,
bona fide is from the Latin word
bonā fidē
SYNONYMS FOR bona fide
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bona fide
bona fide bona fides (see usage note at bona fides)Words nearby bona fide
bon ton,
bon vivant,
bon voyage,
bona,
bona dea,
bona fide,
bona fides,
bona vacantia,
bonaci,
bonadoxin,
bonaire
Example sentences from the Web for bona fide
British Dictionary definitions for bona fide
bona fide
adjective (ˈbəʊnə ˈfaɪdɪ)
real or genuine
a bona fide manuscript
undertaken in good faith
a bona fide agreement
noun (ˈbɔːnə fɑɪd)
Irish informal
a public house licensed to remain open after normal hours to serve bona fide travellers
Word Origin for bona fide
C16: from Latin
Cultural definitions for bona fide
bona fide
[ (boh-nuh feyed, boh-nuh feye-dee, bon-uh feyed) ]
Genuine: “The offer was a bona fide business opportunity: they really meant to carry it through.” From Latin, meaning “in good faith.”