bona fide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal
Quick answer
What does “bona fide” mean?
Genuine, authentic, made or done in good faith, without intention to deceive.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Genuine, authentic, made or done in good faith, without intention to deceive.
Used to describe something or someone as sincere, legitimate, or real, as opposed to counterfeit or fraudulent. Also used to indicate someone acting sincerely or with honest intent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling preferences: both 'bona fide' (two words) and 'bonafide' (one word) are found, with 'bona fide' being more traditional and common, especially in formal contexts. No significant difference in meaning.
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal business and legal contexts. Slight preference in UK for hyphen when used attributively ('bona-fide offer'), but this is not universal.
Frequency
Equally understood and used in both varieties, perhaps marginally more frequent in American legal/business English.
Grammar
How to Use “bona fide” in a Sentence
bona fide + nounverb + bona fide + nounbe + bona fideVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bona fide” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- The document was signed bona fide by all parties.
- He acted bona fide throughout the negotiations.
American English
- She was hired bona fide, with all the proper paperwork.
- The contract was entered into bona fide by both sides.
adjective
British English
- The auction house requires proof from any bona fide bidder.
- They are a bona fide charity registered with the commission.
American English
- He was considered a bona fide resident of the state for tax purposes.
- She made a bona fide effort to complete the project on time.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to legitimate business transactions, offers, or clients (e.g., 'We only deal with bona fide suppliers').
Academic
Used to describe genuine research, qualifications, or scholarly interest (e.g., 'a bona fide academic institution').
Everyday
Used less frequently, but can describe something as real or sincere (e.g., 'He made a bona fide apology').
Technical
Common in legal contexts to describe actions or parties acting without deceit (e.g., 'bona fide purchaser for value without notice').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bona fide”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bona fide”
- Using it to mean 'expert' (e.g., 'He's a bona fide in mechanics' – incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'bonafied' or 'bonified'.
- Mispronouncing the second part as /fiːd/ instead of /ˈfaɪ.di/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, this is a common misconception. 'Bona fide' means genuine or authentic, not skilled or expert. An expert might be 'bona fide' if their credentials are real, but the word itself does not denote skill.
Traditionally spelled as two words: 'bona fide'. The one-word spelling 'bonafide' is increasingly seen, especially in informal contexts, but the two-word form remains standard in formal writing.
Yes, though less common. As an adverb, it means 'in good faith' or 'sincerely' (e.g., 'He acted bona fide'). The adjectival use is far more frequent.
Common antonyms include 'fraudulent', 'fake', 'bogus', and 'spurious'. 'Mala fide' is the direct Latin antonym meaning 'in bad faith', used in legal contexts.
Genuine, authentic, made or done in good faith, without intention to deceive.
Bona fide is usually formal in register.
Bona fide: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbəʊ.nə ˈfaɪ.di/ or /ˌbɒn.ə ˈfaɪ.di/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌboʊ.nə ˈfaɪ.di/ or /ˌbɑː.nə ˈfaɪ.di/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in good faith (closest equivalent phrase)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Bona' sounds like 'bonus' (good/extra), 'fide' sounds like 'fidelity' (faithfulness). A 'bonus of faithfulness' means genuine.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHENTICITY IS PURITY (genuine vs. adulterated), HONESTY IS STRAIGHTNESS (bona fide vs. crooked).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'bona fide' used correctly?