Legal Definitions - bona fides

Definition: Bona fides (boh-nə fI-deez) is a Latin term that means good faith. It refers to the honesty and sincerity of a person's intentions or actions.

Examples:

• When a company hires a new employee, they may ask for their educational and work history to verify their bona fides.
• A seller who discloses all relevant information about a product's condition and history is acting in good faith and demonstrating their bona fides.
• In legal proceedings, a witness who testifies truthfully and without bias is said to have bona fides.

These examples illustrate how bona fides relate to honesty and good intentions. When someone has bona fides, they are acting in good faith and can be trusted to do the right thing.