Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Bona fides \Bo"na fi"des\ (b[=o]"n[.a] f[imac]"d[=e]z). [L.] Good faith; honesty; freedom from fraud or deception.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
by 1838, English pluralization of bona fide, as though it were a noun meaning "guarantee of good faith."
Wiktionary
n. 1 sincerity, good faith 2 credentials that authenticate a person's standing or reputation
Usage examples of "bona fides".
They are stopped at roadblocks and detained until their bona fides are established.
I've known it to take years to establish bona fides and get them to bite.
I had the suspicion that he did it because Americans were known to be wealthy, and he wanted to establish his rich man's bona fides with them.
I did not doubt the military authorities would soon be informed of our arrival, and could only hope that Emerson's forged papers would convince them of our bona fides.
She clearly didn't remember who he was and instinct told him this was neither the time nor place to attempt to establish his bona fides, to her or anyone else.
If I get to Earth at all, UET won't have time to waste, checking your bona fides.