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Law vocabulary · Rights & Obligations

Good faith

Meaning in law, with examples

nounCommon term

In law, good faith means: Honest and fair conduct without an intention to cheat or take unfair advantage; it can describe a person's honest belief or a standard for how parties must behave.

In Turkish: iyi niyet, dürüstlük kuralı, objektif iyi niyet

How it is used

Common phrases are 'in good faith', 'act in good faith', 'negotiate in good faith' and 'a good faith purchaser'. Civil law systems apply a general duty of good faith to contracts, while English law traditionally does not, although a contract can create one. The opposite is 'bad faith'.

Example sentences

  1. The parties agree to negotiate in good faith to resolve any dispute.

  2. She bought the car in good faith, without knowing it had been stolen.

Common collocations

  • in good faith
  • act in good faith
  • negotiate in good faith
  • good faith purchaser
  • duty of good faith
  • bona fideReal and honest, or acting in good faith without any intention to deceive; from the Latin for 'in good faith'.
  • contractAn agreement between two or more parties that the law will enforce, setting out what each side must do or give.
  • obligationSomething that a person or organisation must do because a law, a contract or a court order requires it.
  • civil lawA legal system based mainly on written codes, used in most of continental Europe, Latin America and Turkey; also the area of law that deals with private disputes rather than crimes.
  • consentPermission or agreement freely given by a person who understands what they are agreeing to; without it, many acts become unlawful.

More terms: Rights & Obligations

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.