Definitions for behalf
bɪˈhæf, -ˈhɑfbe·half

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. behalfnoun

   as the agent of or on someone's part (usually expressed as "on behalf of" rather than "in behalf of")

   "the guardian signed the contract on behalf of the minor child"; "this letter is written on behalf of my client";

2. behalfnoun

   for someone's benefit (usually expressed as `in behalf' rather than `on behalf' and usually with a possessive)

   "in your behalf"; "campaigning in his own behalf"; "spoke a good word in his friend's behalf"

Wiktionary(2.00 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. behalfnoun

   Advantage; favor; stead; benefit; interest; profit; support; defense; vindication.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Behalfnoun

   Etymology: This word Stephen Skinner derives from half, and interprets it, for my half; as, for my part. It seems to me rather corrupted from behoof, profit; the pronunciation degenerating easily to behafe; which, in imitation of other words so sounded, was written, by those who knew not the etymology, behalf.

   1. Favour; cause.

   He was in confidence with those who designed the destruction of Strafford; against whom he had contracted some prejudice, in the behalf of his nation. Edward Hyde, b. viii.

   Were but my heart as naked to thy view,
   Marcus would see it bleed in his behalf. Joseph Addison, Cato.

   Never was any nation blessed with more frequent interpositions of divine providence in its behalf. Francis Atterbury.

   2. Vindication; support.

   He might, in his presence, defy all Arcadian knights, in the behalf of his mistress’s beauty. Philip Sidney.

   Lest the fiend,
   Or in behalf of man, or to invade
   Vacant possession, some new trouble raise. Paradise Lost.

   Others believe, that, by the two Fortunes, were meant prosperity or affliction; and produce, in their behalf, an ancient monument. Joseph Addison, Remarks on Italy.

Webster Dictionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Behalfnoun

   advantage; favor; stead; benefit; interest; profit; support; defense; vindication

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Behalf

   be-häf′, n. favour or benefit: cause: sake, account: part—only in phrases 'on,' 'in behalf of,' 'on his behalf.' [M. E. behalve—A.S. be healfe, by the side. See Half.]

Matched Categories

1. • Sake

British National Corpus

1. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'behalf' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4590

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'behalf' in Nouns Frequency: #2483

How to pronounce behalf?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say behalf in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of behalf in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of behalf in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of behalf in a Sentence

1. Boris Johnson:

   I ... want to pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery of those members of the public who physically intervened to protect the lives of others, for me they represent the very best of our country and I thank them on behalf of all of our country.

2. Anita PointerShe:

   The Pointer Sisters family is devastated, on behalf of my siblings and I and the entire Pointer family, The Pointer Sisters ask for your prayers at this time.

3. Ashraf Ghani:

   We are the battlefield. We are fighting on behalf of our friends from India to Russia.

4. Ohio Public Defender Timothy Young:

   I think the message is that courts need to give meaningful consideration to the mitigation that is presented on behalf of clients. Rayshawn Johnson life story, all of those things, the negative influences … the significant trauma … comes back later in life in unfortunate ways.

5. Kimberly Foxx:

   As legislators, if we start changing the way our cityordinances are written, we canstart hitting criminals in the pocket,on behalf of what crimes they’recommitting in the city ofChicago alone, [The] state’s attorney can drop all of her charges every day of the week like she’s been doing, but we should take care ofit more at the local level and that’sa way that we can start curbing crimehere.

Popularity rank by frequency of use