bad faith
C1Formal, Academic, Legal, Business
Definition
Meaning
Dishonesty or deception in one's dealings; the intent to deceive, as opposed to a mistake or good-faith disagreement.
A philosophical/legal concept where a person's actions contradict their stated intentions or commitments, often involving hypocrisy or self-deception about one's motives.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as an uncountable noun phrase (acting in bad faith). It implies moral/ethical judgment. Contrasts sharply with 'good faith'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. More commonly encountered in American legal and business contexts, but fully standard in UK English.
Connotations
Equally strong negative connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to its prominence in contract law and negotiations.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + act/negotiate/argue + in + bad faithaccuse + [object] + of + bad faithdismiss + [object] + in + bad faitha + claim/allegation/charge + of + bad faithVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To bargain in bad faith”
- “A bad faith argument”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to dishonest negotiations or contract breaches where one party intentionally deceives the other.
Academic
In philosophy (e.g., Sartrean existentialism) and critical theory, describing self-deception or inauthenticity.
Everyday
Used to describe someone who is being deliberately dishonest or not honouring an agreement.
Technical
A specific legal term for intentional dishonesty in a transaction or duty.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The union claimed the management had bargained in bad faith.
American English
- The insurer was found to have acted in bad faith by denying the claim.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It's bad faith to promise something you know you can't do.
- The negotiations broke down because one side was accused of acting in bad faith.
- The philosopher argued that the waiter's overly precise movements were an example of bad faith, a denial of his own freedom.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BAD FAIRY (sounds like 'faith') who tricks people with false promises. Bad faith is like that fairy's trickery.
Conceptual Metaphor
HONESTY IS STRAIGHTNESS / DECEPTION IS A CROOKED PATH. Acting in bad faith is taking a crooked, hidden path instead of the straight, honest one.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'плохая вера'. This is incorrect.
- The closest conceptual equivalent is 'недобросовестность' (in legal/business contexts) or 'лицемерие/обман' in everyday use.
- Avoid confusing with 'loss of faith' (потеря веры), which is unrelated.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective before a noun without a hyphen (e.g., 'a bad faith argument' is correct, not 'a bad-faith argument' in most style guides).
- Confusing it with a simple mistake or disagreement, which is not intentional deception.
- Using plural ('bad faiths') – it is uncountable.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is someone most likely acting in 'bad faith'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a broader concept. Lying is a direct false statement. Bad faith can include hiding information, breaking promises with intent, or even deceiving oneself about one's motives.
Yes, though it's a formal term. You can say a friend acted in bad faith if they agreed to a plan but never intended to follow through.
The direct and most common opposite is 'good faith' (bona fide), meaning honesty of intention.
No, there is no standard verb. You use the phrase 'act in bad faith' or 'accuse someone of bad faith'.
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