bona fide
Bona fide (adjective) means Genuine and real, and not intended to deceive. Example: “She turned out to be a bona fide expert on medieval glass.”
How to use bona fide
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishReal and honest, not a fake.
Slightly formal in general use, and a fixed term of art in law.
Two words, no hyphen. The one-word spelling bonafide is widely seen but still treated as an error.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She turned out to be a _____ expert on medieval glass.
Etymology
From Latin bona fide, meaning in good faith, the ablative of bona fides.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for bona fide
See all rhymes for 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.
What is the meaning of bona fide?
"bona fide" (adjective) means genuine and real, and not intended to deceive.
What is another word for bona fide?
Other words for "bona fide" include genuine, authentic, legitimate, real, sincere.