BEHALF Definition & Meaning

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behalf

[ bih-haf, -hahf ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

behalf

/ ��ɪˈ��ɑː�� /

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 )

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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

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of behalf¹

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

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of behalf¹

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

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Idioms and Phrases

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.

More idioms and phrases containing behalf

see in behalf of .

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“On behalf of the county, I apologize wholeheartedly to everyone who was harmed by these reprehensible acts,” said L.A.

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Now Lowe says his KC's review of the investigation has shown the original investigation conducted on behalf of the party was "fundamentally flawed, unfair, and influenced by political motivations".

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The suit will be filed on behalf of the three daughters, ages 3, 8 and 10.

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The helpline manually reports non-consensual intimate images for removal on behalf of victims, by using reverse image searches, and contacting the platforms where the content was shared.

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The deadline to apply for someone to vote on your behalf if you cannot get to a polling station is also 23 April.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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