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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Preposition
In March 2024, a 1,384-square-foot home on the 800 block of Stingray Terrace in Fremont sold for $1,600,000, a price per square foot of $1,156. Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025 By June of 2025, the number of people staying overnight had reached 30 per night. Michael Loria, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025 The chair or board may want to reduce the time to 2 minutes per speaker to allow as many as possible to speak. Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025 Researchers found around 43,000 organisms per square meter living on the warheads, compared with just 8,200 per square meter in the surrounding sediment. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for per

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Per.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/per. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.

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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