adjective
C2
Proficient
bona fide
BOH-nuh FY-dee
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.”
adjective
1
Genuine and real, and not intended to deceive.
"She turned out to be a bona fide expert on medieval glass."
"Only bona fide members may use the car park."
2
legal In law, made or held in good faith, without fraud or knowledge of a defect.
"He argued that he was a bona fide purchaser without notice of the claim."
adverb
1
formal In good faith; sincerely and without deception.
"The offer was made bona fide and swiftly withdrawn."
How to use bona fide
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishReal and honest, not a fake.
When to use it
Slightly formal in general use, and a fixed term of art in law.
Memory tip
Two words, no hyphen. The one-word spelling bonafide is widely seen but still treated as an error.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
bonafide
bona fides
mala fide
Common pairings
bona fide offer
bona fide purchaser
bona fide resident
a bona fide hit
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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
View more →Antonyms
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.
