Standard Lemma guide

behalf

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: bĭhăfˈ
  • US: bĭhäf
  • US: /bɪˈhæf/
  • UK: /bɪˈhɑːf/
  • UK: /bəˈhɑːf/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɑːf
  • CMU ARPABET: B IH0 HH AE1 F Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The interest, benefit, or wellbeing of someone or something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • She appeared on behalf of the U.N. Secretary General at a conference held in behalf of the world's children.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

One's role or rightful place; stead or authority.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: when adopted by someone else

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

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

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • on behalf of
  • in behalf of
  • the guardian signed the contract on behalf of the minor child
  • this letter is written on behalf of my client

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stead, position, place, lieu

4

noun

Meaning 4

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

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sake, interest

History

Etymology

From Middle English bihalve (“nearby”), from Old English bī healfe (“by [his/her] side”), from bī (“by”) + healfe (“side, half”), equivalent to be- + half.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: puoli see (puolesta) — behalf
  • German: Vorteil — behalf
  • German: Nutzen — behalf
  • German: Interesse — behalf
  • Italian: a vantaggio di — behalf
  • Norwegian Bokmål: vegne — behalf
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: vegner — behalf
  • Swahili: niaba — behalf
Real reading context

behalf in complete knowledge articles