[bi-haf, -hahf] 
| 1. | in or on behalf of, as a representative of or a proxy for: On behalf of my colleagues, I address you tonight. |
| 2. | in or on (someone's) behalf, in the interest or aid of (someone): He interceded in my behalf. |
| be·half (bĭ-hāf', -häf') n. Interest, support, or benefit. [Middle English, from Old English be healfe, by (his) side : be, by, at; see by1 + healf, side, half; see half.] Usage Note: A traditional rule holds that in behalf of and on behalf of have distinct meanings. In behalf of means "for the benefit of," as in We raised money in behalf of the earthquake victims. On behalf of means "as the agent of, on the part of," as in The guardian signed the contract on behalf of the minor child. The two meanings are quite close, however, and the phrases are often used interchangeably, even by reputable writers. |
in behalf of
Also, on behalf of.
For someone else, as someone's agent or representative. For example, In behalf of the board, I want to thank you for your help, or Joan was speaking on behalf of the entire staff. [c. 1300]
For someone's benefit or interest, as in He was collecting the dues in my behalf. [Late 1500s] Some authorities insist that in behalf of be used only to mean "for someone's benefit" and on behalf of only to mean "as someone's agent." In practice, however, the terms are so often used interchangeably that this distinction no longer has a basis.
