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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bona fide

bona fide bona fides (see usage note at bona fides)

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.”