On Behalf of vs. in Behalf of: Usage Guide
A body of opinion favors in with the "interest, benefit" sense of behalf and on with the "support, defense" sense. This distinction has been observed by some writers but overall has never had a sound basis in actual usage. In current British use, on behalf (of) has replaced in behalf (of); both are still used in American English, but the distinction is frequently not observed.
Examples of behalf in a Sentence
Zack Sharf, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
George Huerta filed suit, on behalf of himself and other employees, against CSI Electrical Contractors (CSI), for whom the employees performed work at a solar power facility.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024
Defensively, 80 points in the first half, there was no defense being played at all on our behalf.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024
The new laws place restrictions on who can witness a person signing their absentee ballot, how many ballots a single person can witness, and who can return those ballots on behalf of the voters.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
But during the meeting, the mayor said people who couldn’t attend or had trouble attending could have someone else read comments on their behalf.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024
Patel began filming before the pandemic, and finishing the movie was a trial; it was fated for a streaming release until filmmaker and producer Jordan Peele intervened on its behalf.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Roadside Attractions co-president Howard Cohen negotiated the deal with UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
This latest move from the Sunflower County Youth Court comes months after a grand jury in Mississippi determined that there was no criminal conduct on behalf of Capers, who shot Aderrien.
—Jonathan Franklin, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'behalf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near behalf
Cite this Entry
“Behalf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behalf. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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