behalf

[ bih-haf, -hahf ]
/ bɪˈhæf, -ˈhɑf /

Idioms

in/on behalf of, as a representative of or a proxy for: On behalf of my colleagues, I address you tonight.
in/on (someone's) behalf, in the interest or aid of (someone): He interceded in my behalf.

Origin of behalf

1400–50; late Middle English; Middle English bihalve, earlier as adv. and preposition with the sense “near(by),” orig. as prepositional phrase bi halve on one side; see be-, by1 half

Example sentences from the Web for behalf

British Dictionary definitions for behalf

behalf
/ (bɪˈhɑːf) /

noun

interest, part, benefit, or respect (only in the phrases on (someone's) behalf, on or US and Canadian in behalf of, in this (or that) behalf)

Word Origin for behalf

Old English be halfe from be by + halfe side; compare Old Norse af halfu

usage for behalf

On behalf of is sometimes wrongly used where on the part of is intended. The distinction is that on behalf of someone means `for someone's benefit' or `representing someone', while on the part of someone can be roughly paraphrased as `by someone'. So, the following example is incorrect: another act of apparent negligence, this time not on behalf of the company itself, but on behalf of its banker, when what was meant was there was negligence by the company's banker

Idioms and Phrases with behalf

behalf

see in behalf of.