Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

bona fide

adjective
 
 
/ˌbəʊ.nəˈfaɪ.di/ US  /ˌboʊ-/

Definition

real, not false: Make sure you are dealing with a bona fide company.True, real, false, and unreal bona fides
 
 
/ˌbəʊ.nəˈfaɪ.diːz/ US  /ˌboʊ-/ noun [plural]
legal good or sincere intentionsHonesty, openness and sincerity
(Definition of bona fide adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“bona fide” in other dictionaries

Word of the Day

bogus

false, not real or not legal

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More