behalf

American  

[bih-haf, -hahf] / bɪˈhæf, -ˈhɑf /

idioms

1. in / on behalf of, as a representative of or a proxy for.

   On behalf of my colleagues, I address you tonight.

2. in / on someone's behalf, in the interest or aid of (someone).

   He interceded in my behalf.

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behalf British  

/ bɪˈhɑːf /

noun

1. 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 )

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behalf More Idioms  

1. see in behalf of.

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Usage

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

Etymology

Origin of behalf

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; Middle English bihalve, earlier as adverb and preposition with the sense “near(by),” originally, as prepositional phrase bi halve “on one side”; be-, by, half

Example Sentences

Bankers working on behalf of the companies have been engaged in takeover discussions, The Wall Street Journal reports.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Our union’s negotiating committee is working diligently on behalf of members, and we will continue to respect that process,” NFL Referees Association executive director Scott Green said.

From The Wall Street Journal

In April 2024, David filed the suit under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which enables whistleblowers to sue on behalf of the government to recover taxpayer funds.

From The Wall Street Journal

Walmart is committed to negotiating on behalf of its customers “so we can deliver value and everyday low prices,” said a Walmart spokeswoman.

From The Wall Street Journal

Both partnerships aim to encourage customers to build their own AI agents, which are independent bots that can perform tasks on behalf of humans.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• favor
• side