bona fides

Meanings

1. 1nounusually pluralformal

   Proof of who someone is or of their qualifications, showing they can be trusted to do what they claim.

   Grammar: Takes a plural verb in most writing: her bona fides are solid. A singular verb is also seen.

   Patterns

   • establish your bona fides
   • someone's bona fides as something

   Before the interview, the reporter checked the guest's bona fides.

   She has the bona fides to lead this project after ten years in the field.

   He needed to prove his bona fides as an environmentalist before the group would listen to him.

2. 2noununcountablelegalformal

   Honest intention or sincere good faith in dealing with others.

   Grammar: A rare, more legal use; the phrase is then treated as singular: his bona fides was never doubted.

   Patterns

   • act in bona fides

   The court accepted the buyer's bona fides and let the sale stand.

   Nobody questioned the bona fides of the charity's founders.

   The company's bona fides in the negotiation were clear to both sides.

Common combinations

establish your bona fides

The new coach worked hard to establish her bona fides with the team.

check someone's bona fides

The bank will check your bona fides before approving the transfer.

impeccable bona fides

The candidate arrived with impeccable bona fides in education reform.

question someone's bona fides

Critics began to question the author's bona fides on the subject.

academic bona fides

His academic bona fides were enough to get him invited to the panel.

Synonyms and how they differ

credentials

Credentials are usually documents or records, while bona fides can also mean the overall impression of genuineness.

qualifications

Qualifications focus on skills and training, whereas bona fides also involve honesty and being who you say you are.

authenticity

Authenticity describes something being genuine, but bona fides describes the proof offered by a person or group.

track record

A track record is evidence from past performance, while bona fides can be claimed from status or sincerity as well.

Opposites

Word family

bona fide adjective

real, genuine, or sincere

bona fide adverb

in good faith (rare)

mala fides noun

bad faith or dishonest intent

Commonly confused: bona fides or bona fide?

Practice

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