bona fides
noun
bo·na fi·des ˌbō-nə-ˈfī-ˌdēz 
÷ˈbō-nə-ˌfīdz
÷ˈbō-nə-ˌfīdz 1
: good faith : sincerity
2
: the fact of being genuine —often plural in construction
3
: evidence of one's good faith or genuineness —often plural in construction
4
: evidence of one's qualifications or achievements —often plural in construction
Did you know?
Bona fides looks like a plural word in English, but in Latin it is a singular noun that literally means "good faith." When bona fides entered English, it at first stayed very close to its Latin use, and it also kept its singular form—for example, "a claimant whose bona fides is unquestionable." But in the 20th century, use of bona fides began to widen, and it began to appear with a plural verb in certain contexts, such as "the informant's bona fides were ascertained."
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In hiring Gorman and Naylor, Netflix has secured two executives with bona fides in both technology and entertainment. 
Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2022 Chris Licht, the former CBS executive who has taken the reins of CNN, has articulated a plan to return the network to its news bona fides. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 Aug. 2022 These endorsements also had the effect of showing Caruso’s bona fides in one of the city’s biggest industries — Hollywood. Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2022 Countries with solid environmental bona fides like Germany, Canada and Australia all have efficient, streamlined permitting processes that reach prompt final decisions and allow projects to proceed. Oren Cass, CNN, 11 Aug. 2022 Brands are no doubt also aware that such coolers’ survivalist bona fides are a big part of their appeal. Sal Vaglica, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 Hartzler and Schmitt have different conservative bona fides and different strategies for winning. David Weigel, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Aug. 2022 One day, Carmy’s sous chef, Sydney—an ambitious and fastidious young woman with serious fine-dining bona fides herself—reaches a breaking point, storming out of the kitchen after Carmy blows up at her. Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 Fox seemed to shore up its Trumpian bona fides after that. Jeremy Barr, Washington Post, 30 July 2022 See More
Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2022 Chris Licht, the former CBS executive who has taken the reins of CNN, has articulated a plan to return the network to its news bona fides. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 Aug. 2022 These endorsements also had the effect of showing Caruso’s bona fides in one of the city’s biggest industries — Hollywood. Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2022 Countries with solid environmental bona fides like Germany, Canada and Australia all have efficient, streamlined permitting processes that reach prompt final decisions and allow projects to proceed. Oren Cass, CNN, 11 Aug. 2022 Brands are no doubt also aware that such coolers’ survivalist bona fides are a big part of their appeal. Sal Vaglica, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 Hartzler and Schmitt have different conservative bona fides and different strategies for winning. David Weigel, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Aug. 2022 One day, Carmy’s sous chef, Sydney—an ambitious and fastidious young woman with serious fine-dining bona fides herself—reaches a breaking point, storming out of the kitchen after Carmy blows up at her. Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 Fox seemed to shore up its Trumpian bona fides after that. Jeremy Barr, Washington Post, 30 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin, literally, good faith
First Known Use
1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Legal Definition
bona fides
noun
bo·na fi·des ˌbō-nə-ˈfī-ˌdēz, commonly ˈbō-nə-ˌfīdz
: good faith
the fact that the plaintiff conducted an investigation demonstrated its bona fides Jeannette Glass Co. v. Indemnity Ins. Co. of North America, 88 A.2d 407 (1952) (dissent)
Jeannette Glass Co. v. Indemnity Ins. Co. of North America, 88 A.2d 407 (1952) (dissent)