bonne foi: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Academic / Legal
Quick answer
What does “bonne foi” mean?
Sincere, genuine, made in good faith.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Sincere, genuine, made in good faith.
1. Made or carried out in good faith without intent to deceive (e.g., a bona fide offer). 2. Authentic; genuine; not counterfeit (e.g., a bona fide antique). 3. As a legal term: without fraud or deceit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling preference: 'bona fide' is standard in both. British usage may retain Latin plurals (bona fides) more strictly in formal legal/academic contexts.
Connotations
Primarily carries the same formal, legalistic connotations in both variants. May be perceived as slightly more pretentious or jargonistic in everyday use.
Frequency
Higher frequency in legal, academic, and business contexts in both regions. General usage is similar.
Grammar
How to Use “bonne foi” in a Sentence
[adj] + noun (a bona fide contract)[adv] + verb (they acted bona fide)bona fide + as + noun (a bona fide as a member)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bonne foi” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- The offer was made bona fide.
- They believed bona fide that the information was correct.
American English
- He acted bona fide throughout the negotiation.
- The claim was submitted bona fide.
adjective
British English
- He made a bona fide offer on the London flat.
- The museum acquired a bona fide Rembrandt.
American English
- She is a bona fide expert in cybersecurity.
- They presented a bona fide contract for the deal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to genuine business offers, legitimate transactions, and sincere negotiations. 'We require a bona fide deposit to secure the property.'
Academic
Describes authentic research, genuine documents, or sincere scholarly intent. 'The manuscript was proven to be a bona fide historical record.'
Everyday
Used to emphasize authenticity or sincerity, often humorously or sarcastically. 'Is that a bona fide Rolex or a knock-off?'
Technical
A fundamental concept in contract law, referring to actions taken honestly, without deception.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bonne foi”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bonne foi”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bonne foi”
- Misspelling as 'bonified' or 'bonafied'.
- Using it redundantly (e.g., 'a genuine bona fide offer').
- Mispronouncing 'fide' as /fiːd/ instead of /ˈfaɪ.di/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a fully naturalised loan phrase from Latin, used primarily in formal, legal, and academic English.
Yes, though less common than its adjectival use. As an adverb, it means 'in good faith' or 'sincerely' (e.g., 'He acted bona fide').
'Bona fide' is an adjective/adverb meaning 'in good faith'. 'Bona fides' (often treated as singular) is a noun meaning 'credentials' or 'evidence of one's good faith or legitimacy'.
The traditional and more formal spelling is two words: 'bona fide'. The one-word spelling 'bonafide' is increasingly seen in informal contexts but may be considered non-standard in formal writing.
Sincere, genuine, made in good faith.
Bonne foi is usually formal / academic / legal in register.
Bonne foi: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbəʊ.nə ˈfaɪ.di/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌboʊ.nə ˈfaɪ.di/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In good faith (loosely related, but not an idiom of 'bona fide' itself)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'BONE-A FIDElity' speaker. It's a GENUINE, high-quality (good faith) product.
Conceptual Metaphor
HONESTY IS AUTHENTICITY / TRUTH IS A GENUINE ARTICLE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bona fide' LEAST likely to be used?