bona fide
5 synonyms and 4 antonyms for bona fide, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Genuine and real, and not intended to deceive.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Antonyms
How to use bona fide
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
bona fide offer
bona fide purchaser
bona fide resident
a bona fide hit
Slightly formal in general use, and a fixed term of art in law.
Etymology
From Latin bona fide, meaning in good faith, the ablative of bona fides.
Full origin of bona fide →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between bona fide and bona fides?
Bona fide is an adjective meaning genuine, as in a bona fide offer. Bona fides is a noun meaning someone's credentials or proof of sincerity, as in checking her bona fides. Despite the s, bona fides is usually treated as singular.
How do you pronounce bona fide?
The traditional pronunciation follows the Latin, BOH-nuh FY-dee, with three syllables in the second word. The shorter BOH-nuh FIDE is also common in everyday English and is not considered wrong.
