per

1 of 4

preposition

1
: by the means or agency of : through
per bearer
2
: with respect to every member of a specified group : for each
3
: according to
often used with as
per instructions
as per usual
Using Per as a Preposition: Usage Guide

Per occurs most frequently in business contexts; its use outside such contexts is often criticized but is quite widespread, especially in sense 2. Its most common and natural nonbusiness uses always involve figures, usually in relation to price

$150 per performance

, automobiles

32 miles per gallon
55 miles per hour

, or sports.

averages 15 points and 9 rebounds per game

per

2 of 4

adverb

: for each : apiece
a bargain at $3.50 per

per

3 of 4

abbreviation

1
period
2
person

per-

4 of 4

prefix

1
: throughout : thoroughly
peruse
2
a
: containing the largest possible or a relatively large proportion of a (specified) chemical element
perchloroethylene
b
: containing an element in its highest or a high oxidation state
perchloric acid

Examples of per in a Sentence

Preposition The speed limit is 35 miles per hour. The car gets 32 miles per gallon. He averages 15 points per game. Per your advice, I accepted their offer. Adverb you can have them at 50 cents per or three for $1.25
Recent Examples on the Web
Preposition
Ben Anderson: Over 600,000 deaths per year by 2040, there will be three million cases globally of breast cancer and one million deaths per year. Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2024 Assuming a 3% inflation rate and average returns on investments of 4%, here is the net present value of each option: The $150 per month is worth $41,116. Cicely Jones, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Adverb
Senior libero/setter Cassidy Donalson represented Spring Woods on the watch list after averaging a team-high 4.3 digs per set as a junior. Jack Marrion, Houston Chronicle, 1 July 2019 That’s helped bring per-pound retail prices for beef patties down 16% from their September 2015 high of $5.12 to about $4.31 in June, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Jacob Bunge, WSJ, 30 June 2018 See all Example Sentences for per 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'per.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Preposition

Latin, through, by means of, by — more at for

Prefix

Latin, through, throughout, thoroughly, detrimental to, from per

First Known Use

Preposition

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of per was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near per

Cite this Entry

“Per.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/per. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

per

preposition
(ˈ)pər
1
: by means of
2
: to or for each
$10 per day
3
: as indicated by : according to
per list price

Medical Definition

per

1 of 2 preposition
: by the means or agency of : by way of : through
enter through the mouth lining and per the bloodstream to the stomachSydney (Australia) Bulletin
blood per rectum
see per os

per

2 of 2 abbreviation
1
period; periodic
2
person

Legal Definition

per

preposition
: as stated by
used to indicate the author of an opinion with which the majority of judges concur

More from Merriam-Webster on per

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