per

preposition \ ˈpər \

Updated on: 22 May 2018

Definition of per

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

See per defined for English-language learners

See per defined for kids

Using per as a Preposition

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

Examples of per in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of per from the Web

For instance, Tidal claimed West’s album recorded 250 million streams in the first 10 days after release with only 3 million subscribers, which would mean each subscriber listened to the album in full on average of eight times per day.

— nick statt, The Verge, "Tidal is investigating data breach that led to accusation of inflated streaming numbers," 18 May 2018
With the moose's voracious appetites — one adult moose can eat up to 60 pounds of plants per day — an unchecked moose population could dramatically alter Isle Royale's ecology for the worse.

— keith matheny, Detroit Free Press, "Isle Royale's 2 remaining wolves still alive, spotted this winter," 17 May 2018
To compare, the least-busy stations on Los Angeles’s bustling Red Line subway see about 4,000 boardings per day.

— alissa walker, Curbed, "Uber’s Skyports are just freeway onramps for flying cars," 17 May 2018
Admission to the softball state tournaments is $9 per day in advance and $12 at the gate.

— j.c. carnahan, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Weather issues further delay start of FHSAA softball state tournaments," 17 May 2018
The most recent traffic count recorded at Bridal Veil tallied an average of 1,100 vehicles per day in 2016.

— jeff manning, OregonLive.com, "Marylhurst University to close, board cites declining enrollment," 17 May 2018
Parking and Transportation General admission parking passes can be purchased for $35 per day.

— aidin vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, "BottleRock Napa Valley festival ready to defy expectations with Bruno Mars and more," 17 May 2018
The project would entail the investment of $1 billion to produce 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day during the next decade in the 55-year-old Karanj oil field, which currently produces 120,000 barrels a day.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Iran signs oil deal with UK group as France’s Total exits," 17 May 2018
As the average adult woman needs about 2.7 liters of fluid per day and the average man needs about 3.7, some 80 percent of which comes from drinks, the still could in theory provide enough daily drinking water for a family.

— emily matchar, Smithsonian, "Could This Low-Cost Device Provide Clean Drinking Water To Those In Need?," 17 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'per.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of per

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

per Synonyms

Synonyms

by, in, through, via, with;

Phrases

by dint of, by means of, by virtue of (or in);

per

adverb

Definition of per

: for each : apiece

a bargain at $3.50 per

Examples of per in a Sentence

you can have them at 50 cents per or three for $1.25

Recent Examples of per from the Web

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, "Samford volleyball preps for two key home matches this weekend," 2 Nov. 2017

First Known Use of per

1899

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

per Synonyms

Synonyms

all, apiece, each, per capita;

Near Antonyms

aggregately, altogether, collectively, together;

Phrases

a pop, a shot, a throw;

per

abbreviation

Definition of per

1 period

2 person

per-

prefix

Definition of per-

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

Origin and Etymology of per-

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

PER Defined for English Language Learners

per

preposition

Definition of per for English Language Learners

: for each
: as directed by or stated in

PER Defined for Kids

per

preposition \ ˈpər \

Definition of per for Students

1 : to or for each

It cost us ten dollars per day.

2 : as directed by

Construction was done per instructions.

Medical Dictionary

per

preposition \ ˈpər \

medical Definition of per

: 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

abbreviation

medical Definition of per

1 period; periodic

2 person

Law Dictionary

per

preposition \ ˈpər \

legal Definition of per

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

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See words that rhyme with per Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for per Spanish Central: Translation of per Nglish: Translation of per for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of per for Arabic speakers

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per

Definition of per

Using per as a Preposition

Examples of per in a Sentence

Recent Examples of per from the Web

Origin and Etymology of per

per Synonyms

Synonyms

Phrases

per

Definition of per

Examples of per in a Sentence

Recent Examples of per from the Web

First Known Use of per

per Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

per

Definition of per

per-

Definition of per-

Origin and Etymology of per-

Phrases Related to PER

Related Phrases

PER Defined for English Language Learners

per

Definition of per for English Language Learners

PER Defined for Kids

per

Definition of per for Students

Medical Dictionary

per

medical Definition of per

per

medical Definition of per

Law Dictionary

per

legal Definition of per

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