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
Recent Examples on the Web
American officials have alleged that North Korea is engaged in a long-running effort to use cyberattacks, cryptocurrency theft and IT contractors to gather information on behalf of the government in Pyongyang.
—
Nino Paoli, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
The application was filed with the city of Boise by Pickering Firm, an engineering and architectural company based in Memphis, on behalf of In-N-Out.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 13 Sep. 2025
The settlement comes from several lawsuits brought on behalf of Facebook users that alleged the company made user data accessible to third parties without permission.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 13 Sep. 2025
His words sounded like shame—shame on behalf of Black communities, and a kind of reflexive accountability to Asian anger.
—Beth Lew-Williams, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for behalf
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Nino Paoli, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
The application was filed with the city of Boise by Pickering Firm, an engineering and architectural company based in Memphis, on behalf of In-N-Out.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 13 Sep. 2025
The settlement comes from several lawsuits brought on behalf of Facebook users that alleged the company made user data accessible to third parties without permission.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 13 Sep. 2025
His words sounded like shame—shame on behalf of Black communities, and a kind of reflexive accountability to Asian anger.
—Beth Lew-Williams, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for behalf
Cite this Entry
“Behalf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behalf. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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