per

preposition \ ˈpər \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Usage guide: Using per as a Preposition

Examples: per in a Sentence

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

Ultimately, Dolan says, the reactor will produce 15 kilograms per day of 99.9999% pure hydrogen, enough to power a few fuel cell cars.

— robert f. service, Science | AAAS, "Ammonia—a renewable fuel made from sun, air, and water—could power the globe without carbon," 12 July 2018
Civilian Conservation Corps workers, grateful for work in the middle of the Great Depression, started swinging picks and shovels in 1936 or 1937, often earning $1 per day.

— christopher reynolds, latimes.com, "Sitting in the palm of nature: The unique energy — and performances — of Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre," 12 July 2018
The plan, outlined in a filing Friday afternoon in San Diego federal court, aims to process about 200 children age 5 and older per day, with a rollout this weekend.

— kristina davis, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Trump administration outlines plan to reunify remaining 2,500 separated children," 14 July 2018
That's an average of 17,003 times per day, giving rise to a new form of activism spearheaded through social media and technology.

— editors, USA TODAY, "Trump visits Queen Elizabeth II, Wimbledon semifinals, Supermoon Solar Eclipse: 5 things to know Friday," 13 July 2018
The clinic would see an estimated 80 to 120 patients per day.

— jeff rumage, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Former Sendik's building in Shorewood could become medical clinic," 13 July 2018
The Fall 2017 Revenue Sources Book originally pegged fiscal 2018 North Slope oil production at 533,400 barrels per day.

— author: elwood brehmer, Anchorage Daily News, "Despite slight production dip, Alaska oil revenue grows in FY18," 13 July 2018
Local and state political leaders demanded answers from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the jail that contracts with ICE to hold about 200 undocumented immigrants per day.

— otis r. taylor jr., SFChronicle.com, "Honduran woman deported from Contra Costa jail is glad to hear ICE is getting booted," 12 July 2018
Slabtown Cafe and Burgers, Traverse City, Mich. Located on the city’s west side, this joint serves up 800 pounds of burgers per day and offers a full menu of specialty burgers. 6.

— chris morris, Fortune, "This Is Where You Can Find the Best Hamburger in the U.S., According to TripAdvisor," 12 July 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 .25

Recent Examples of per from the Web

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, "Chicken, Turkey and Tuna Have a Beef With Your Burger," 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, "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

Learn More about per

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

Learn More about per

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