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

Ben Anderson: Over 600,000 deaths per year by 2040, there will be three million cases globally of breast cancer and one million deaths per year. —Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2024

Assuming a 3% inflation rate and average returns on investments of 4%, here is the net present value of each option: The $150 per month is worth $41,116. —Cicely Jones, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

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

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

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

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