per

preposition \ ˈpər \

Updated on: 11 Apr 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

In 2018, the median pay for Arizona teachers is $46,949, a 4.6 percent increase from 2015, or about $2,000 per year.

— craig harris, azcentral, "Yuma teacher doubles salary by leaving Arizona to teach in California," 6 Apr. 2018
The suites were sold for $200,000 to $300,000 per year with multiple-year leases required.

— james b. nelson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "New Milwaukee Bucks arena: A big flush from 900 bathroom fixtures will come before opening," 6 Apr. 2018
Wilmington now handles about 350,000 container units a year, and Gulftainer aims to expand it to 1.2 million units per year in a decade.

— andrew maykuth, Philly.com, "Gulftainer's $584M Wilmington port expansion: 'This is going to be a hard thing for people north of us to swallow.'," 6 Apr. 2018
Stark State is now leasing the site for $40,000 per year from the city of Akron for 20 years.

— jennifer conn, akron reporter, cleveland.com, "Stark State College Akron offers a sneak peek in advance of grand opening (photos)," 5 Apr. 2018
On average, Hawaii's economy has grown just 1.6 percent per year compared with the national average of 2.1 percent since 2009.

— audrey mcavoy and christopher s. rugaber, The Christian Science Monitor, "Hawaii's low unemployment presents unique challenges," 5 Apr. 2018
Ten quick thoughts 1) To put Griffin’s contract in perspective, there are 49 quarterbacks in the NFL who are currently set to make more than $1 million per year in the upcoming season, according to Spotrac.

— jeff zrebiec, baltimoresun.com, "Ravens news, notes and opinions on interest in receiver Eric Decker, RGIII and draft trades," 5 Apr. 2018
In Southwest Pass and Pass-a-Loutre, the seafloor has been retreating by about 65 feet per year since 1979.

— tristan baurick, NOLA.com, "Like the Louisiana coast, the Gulf seafloor is rapidly eroding, research finds," 5 Apr. 2018
In addition, Malloy is calling for imposing a new fee of $3 for each tire purchased, starting July 1 and raising an estimated $8 million per year.

— christopher keating, courant.com, "Legislative Committee Passes Highway Tolls Bill 26-25, Sending Proposal To House," 5 Apr. 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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