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Where does the word "bona fide" come from? It comes from Latin bona fide, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
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Where does the word "bona fide" come from? It comes from Latin bona fide, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
Bona fide’s story begins in Latin: bona fide meant “in good faith.” Literally with good faith, from bonus (good) and fides (faith). It reached English by 1500s as bona fide. Latin 'in good faith', a phrase of Roman and English law. Today, bona fide means genuine, real, or made in good faith.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient bona fide "in good faith", literally with good faith, from bonus (good) and fides (faith).
- Stage 2 · English · 1500s bona fide "genuine, made in good faith", Latin 'in good faith', a phrase of Roman and English law.