behalf
/bɪˈhæf/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.42 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The interest, benefit, or wellbeing of someone or something.
Example Sentences
- "She appeared on behalf of the U.N. Secretary General at a conference held in behalf of the world's children."
- "The one exception to this was William Hilhouse, who was widely regarded as the colonist with the greatest experience of the interior and its native inhabitants, on whose behalf he endlessly campaigned."
- "The NUL, on the other hand, never felt that its position among civil rights organizations was threatened, and considered itself unique because of its historic commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income African Americans."
- "He was not only my Representative who died on my behalf; He was my Substitute who died in my very stead."
- "Which indeed is so true, that she herself may seek back for her own gain the dowry offered by another on her behalf, unless by chance he who offered it immediately (that is, at the time of offering or of promising) stipulated or made an agreement that the afore-mentioned dowry would be returned to him."
- "The Agent shall have all of the powers, rights, discretions, elections, and authority conferred by statute, the common law, or rule of court or governmental agency that are reasonably necessary for the Agent to act on my behalf for any purpose."
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.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: bihalve, bī healfe
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /bɪˈhæf/
- British English: /bɪˈhɑːf/