bona fides

views updated May 21 2018

bo·na fi·des / ˈbōnə ˌfīdz; ˈfīdēz; ˈbänə/ • n. a person's honesty and sincerity of intention: he went to great lengths to establish his liberal bona fides. ∎  [treated as pl.] inf. documentary evidence showing a person's legitimacy; credentials: are you satisfied with my bona fides?