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

This one comes on behalf of a former Colorado elections official serving a nine-year sentence for election fraud.

From Los Angeles Times

Discovery, Miller has provided communications advice in support of Paramount’s bid on behalf of an undisclosed Paramount investor.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Sakura spokesperson declined to elaborate on Tanaka’s remarks, saying the CEO had made them in his personal capacity, not on the company’s behalf.

From Barron's

“I’m the one who presented it on behalf of the United States to the world,” Powell later said.

From Salon

That data is understood to have been on systems operated on the Home Office's behalf by the Foreign Office, whose staff detected the incident.

From BBC

Related Words

• favor
• side