per

1 of 4

preposition

ˈpər 

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

Synonyms

Preposition

• by
• in
• through
• via
• with

Adverb

• all
• apiece
• each
• per capita

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

Preposition

While students are spending time in those alternative class settings, teachers get two free hours per week to develop and fine-tune their curriculum as part of the International Baccalaureate program. —Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2023

Unconfirmed industry commentary from China points to a wide release with tens of thousands of screenings per day and distribution including premium screen formats, such as Imax and Dolby. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 4 Dec. 2023

Because the deployment company wasn’t available right away, the sculptures hung out at Prickly Bay Marina for four weeks during an unplanned dry land exhibition, per CNN Travel. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Dec. 2023

This year that minimum per student funding is $7,618. —Cynthia Howell, arkansasonline.com, 4 Dec. 2023

Just two trucks of fuel were allowed in per day from Nov. 18, one week before Israel's temporary truce with Hamas. —NBC News, 4 Dec. 2023

The courses range from one-and-a-half hours to four hours and cost between $150 to $175 per couple. —Madison Medeiros, Parents, 3 Dec. 2023

Following Hamas' attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and saw around 240 Israelis taken hostage, the Israeli government launched airstrikes on Gaza that have so far killed 14,800, per CNN. —Jenny Haward, Peoplemag, 3 Dec. 2023

Sear each slice until golden brown on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes per side. —Florence O'Connor, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2023

Adverb

Senior libero/setter Cassidy Donalson represented Spring Woods on the watch list after averaging a team-high 4.3 digs per set as a junior. —Jack Marrion, Houston Chronicle, 1 July 2019

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, 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, 2 Nov. 2017

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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

Phrases Containing per

• as per
• an/per hour
• per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
• pay-per-view
• as per usual
• per diem
• per curiam
• per contra
• per centum
• per cent
• per capita
• per annum
• per second per second
• per mill
• per se
• per stirpes
• per mensem
• per head

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• as per
• an/per hour
• per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
• pay-per-view
• as per usual
• per diem
• per curiam
• per contra
• per centum
• per cent
• per capita
• per annum
• per second per second
• per mill
• per se
• per stirpes
• per mensem
• per head

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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

ˈpər 

: 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

2 of 2 abbreviation

1

period; periodic

2

person

Legal Definition

per

preposition

ˈpər 

: as stated by

—used to indicate the author of an opinion with which the majority of judges concur