per

preposition \ ˈpər \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 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

The pay disparity between front and back of the house staffers is narrower at Dirt Candy than at many other restaurants, where the difference can be as much as $20 or more per hour.

— tim carman, Washington Post, "Tipping the pay scales: Initiative 77 could dramatically alter D.C. restaurant culture," 16 June 2018
Entrepreneur Elon Musk said Thursday a high-speed transportation system that will whisk people between downtown Chicago and O'Hare International Airport at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour could be operational in about three years.

— sara burnett, The Christian Science Monitor, "Elon Musk to build high-speed transportation system in Chicago," 15 June 2018
The contract sets pay at the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, but former cheerleaders say they were told by Gary that a cheerleader’s position was a full-time job with part-time salary.

— david barron, Houston Chronicle, "Texans attorneys request to dismiss cheerleader lawsuit," 15 June 2018
Though the state recently raised its minimum wage to $10.10, households still need to earn $36.13 per hour to afford that 2-bedroom home.

— dakin andone, CNN, "Minimum wage won't let you afford a 2-bedroom rental anywhere in the country, report says," 14 June 2018
The O’Hare line, which has been dubbed the Chicago Express Loop, would use a concrete track within the tunnel and passenger-carrying skates will be able to travel at speed up to 150 miles per hour.

— aamer madhani, USA TODAY, "Chicago mayor wants Elon Musk to build high-speed transit linking O'Hare and downtown," 14 June 2018
Traveling much farther than the fireball, a colossal pressure wave would hurtle forth faster than the speed of sound, generating winds up to 500 miles per hour.

— Daily Intelligencer, "This Is What a Nuclear Bomb Looks Like," 12 June 2018
The three-person, double-walled model was built to be burly yet easy to set up, with a small footprint, lots of head room, and the ability to withstand gusts of up to 80 miles per hour.

— ariella gintzler, Outside Online, "First Look: Eddie Bauer's Katabatic 2 Tent," 12 June 2018
An undrafted free agent, Thielen could hardly get a tryout as a rookie and didn't break 150 yards per season in his first two years in the league.

— jourdan rodrigue, charlotteobserver, "Big adjustments evident in Norv Turner's Panthers offense, and not just for Cam Newton," 8 June 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

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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