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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
Alfortish had been disbarred after pleading guilty, in 2011, to a conspiracy charge relating to his tenure as the president of a nonprofit, the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, which advocates on behalf of professionals in the horse-racing business.
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Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Last week, Vice President JD Vance spent two days in Hungary touting Orbán’s leadership ahead of the election, and accusing the European Union of seeking to interfere on behalf of Magyar.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent revelations have shown a top member of Orban’s government frequently shared the contents of EU discussions with Moscow, raising accusations that Hungary was acting on Russia’s behalf within the bloc.
—Justin Spike, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Jackson pleaded guilty on April 3, admitting to trafficking narcotics on behalf of and as part of the Lows gang, the attorney's office says.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for behalf
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Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Last week, Vice President JD Vance spent two days in Hungary touting Orbán’s leadership ahead of the election, and accusing the European Union of seeking to interfere on behalf of Magyar.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent revelations have shown a top member of Orban’s government frequently shared the contents of EU discussions with Moscow, raising accusations that Hungary was acting on Russia’s behalf within the bloc.
—Justin Spike, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Jackson pleaded guilty on April 3, admitting to trafficking narcotics on behalf of and as part of the Lows gang, the attorney's office says.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for behalf
Cite this Entry
“Behalf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behalf. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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