BEHALF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does behalf mean? 

• BEHALF (noun)
  The noun BEHALF has 2 senses:

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

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

  Familiarity information: BEHALF used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BEHALF (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

this letter is written on behalf of my client

Hypernyms ("behalf" is a kind of...):

lieu; place; position; stead (the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

spoke a good word in his friend's behalf

Hypernyms ("behalf" is a kind of...):

interest; sake (a reason for wanting something done)

 Context examples 

Keep in mind that Neptune is in your tenth house of career and is speaking directly to Jupiter on your behalf, which is in your financial house.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

To my certain knowledge he has acted on behalf of three of the reigning houses of Europe in very vital matters.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Very true, indeed; and now, my dear Jane, what have you got to say on behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned in the business?

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

When your master, employer, what you will, engaged that someone should come on his behalf, it was understood that my needs only were to be consulted.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A person who provides or receives information on behalf of an organization.

(Organizational Contact, NCI Thesaurus)

It was apparent that my conversation had interested the father in my behalf, and I was a fool in having exposed my person to the horror of his children.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

The person who is designated by the Investigator to order investigational agents on his/her behalf.

(Ordering Designee, NCI Thesaurus)

A person acting as a channel for communication between groups or on behalf of a group.

(Contact Person, NCI Thesaurus)

Lord John Roxton expostulated on behalf of the wretched victims, and received nothing but threats and insults for his pains.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At the same time you must admit that the occasion of a lady’s marriage is a very suitable time for her friends and relatives to make some little effort upon her behalf.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)