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
per instructions
—often used with asas 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
1
period
2
person
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
Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
—Lori Zaino, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Any American who has been receiving $4200 dollars per year of free groceries and does NOT have at least 1 month of groceries stocked should never again receive SNAP, because wow, stop smoking crack.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The $50 million third phase was completed in 2020, and included an extension of the docks that allowed the terminal to handle two 1,000-foot-long ships at the same time, pushing the terminal’s maximum capacity to 650,000 TEUs per year.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for per
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
Authorities were able to track exactly where Arredondo was after a stranger who lives in Mexico left a message about his whereabouts on a GoFundMe page the family had set up to honor Paolos after his death, per the outlets.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
—Lori Zaino, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Any American who has been receiving $4200 dollars per year of free groceries and does NOT have at least 1 month of groceries stocked should never again receive SNAP, because wow, stop smoking crack.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The $50 million third phase was completed in 2020, and included an extension of the docks that allowed the terminal to handle two 1,000-foot-long ships at the same time, pushing the terminal’s maximum capacity to 650,000 TEUs per year.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for per
Cite this Entry
“Per.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/per. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
Legal Definition
per
preposition
: as stated by
—used to indicate the author of an opinion with which the majority of judges concur
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share