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.
Words nearby behalf
beguiling,
beguin,
beguine,
begum,
begun,
behalf,
behan,
behave,
behavior,
behavior disorder,
behavior medicine
British Dictionary definitions for in behalf of
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 in behalf of (1 of 2)
in behalf of
Also, on behalf of.
For someone else, as someone's agent or representative. For example, In behalf of the board, I want to thank you for your help, or Joan was speaking on behalf of the entire staff. [c. 1300]
For someone's benefit or interest, as in He was collecting the dues in my behalf. [Late 1500s] Some authorities insist that in behalf of be used only to mean “for someone's benefit” and on behalf of only to mean “as someone's agent.” In practice, however, the terms are so often used interchangeably that this distinction no longer has a basis.
Idioms and Phrases with in behalf of (2 of 2)
behalf
see in behalf of.