per

1 of 4

preposition

ˈpər 

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

Synonyms

Preposition

• by
• in
• through
• via
• with

Adverb

• all
• apiece
• each
• per capita

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

Also agreed to: A revenue-sharing plan enabling each school to share about $20 million per year with its athletes. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 26 May 2024

Red Flag fire warnings are also in place in west Texas, all of New Mexico and parts of Oklahoma, Arizona and Colorado, where very low humidity of below 10%, wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour combine with the hot temperatures. —CBS News, 25 May 2024

Fan attendance is up 9% year-over-year, per the Royals. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 May 2024

The potential settlement could cost each school in the remaining power conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC) about $300 million per year over 10 years, including as much as $21 million per year to pay a school’s athletes. —Ralph D. Russo, Fortune, 25 May 2024

Brown is reportedly seeking an extension at his market rate, which could come in over $10 million per year after Steve Kerr ($17.5 million), Gregg Popovich ($16 million), Monty Williams ($13 million) and Mike Budenholzer ($10 million) signed lucrative new deals over the past year. —Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 25 May 2024

That check, in turn, is combined with the revenue generated by the other broadcast deals (NBC and CBS) to create one giant stream of cash — more than $60 million per year. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 24 May 2024

For example, women can reduce their risk of death by 18% by doing 140 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week, while men need 300 minutes to achieve the same benefit. —Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2024

Their roster is stacked, led by two-time MVP and the league's no. 2 scorer, Breanna Stewart, and point guard Courtney Vandersloot, who topped the league in assists per game last year. —Becky Sullivan, NPR, 14 May 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

Anderton, the Collierville, Tennessee, native averaged 11.78 assists per set and 2.00 digs per set as Samford improved to 6-6 in SoCon play. —Samford Athletics, AL.com, 2 Nov. 2017

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

Phrases Containing per

• an/per hour
• as per
• as per usual
• pay-per-view
• per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
• per annum
• per capita
• per cent
• per centum
• per contra
• per curiam
• per diem
• per head
• per mensem
• per mill
• per se
• per second per second
• per stirpes

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

ˈpər 

: by the means or agency of : by way of : through

enter through the mouth lining and per the bloodstream to the stomach

—Sydney (Australia) Bulletin

blood per rectum

see per os

per

2 of 2 abbreviation

1

period; periodic

2

person

Legal Definition

per

preposition

ˈpər 

: as stated by

—used to indicate the author of an opinion with which the majority of judges concur