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Definition of per

per

/pɜːr/
per
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• preposition

1

For each; for every (used to express rates, prices, proportions, or measurements).

Example

"The consultant charges a flat fee of two hundred dollars per hour."

2

In accordance with; according to; as stated or directed by.

Example

"Per the terms of the lease agreement, tenants must give thirty days' notice before moving out."

3

By means of; through the agency or medium of.

Example

"The signed contracts were dispatched per express courier this morning."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

While 'per' is standard for expressing mathematical rates and formal business references, using it in casual everyday speech instead of 'a' or 'each'—or in the redundant phrase 'as per'—can sound overly bureaucratic.

• Rhymes for per

• Nearby Words

peppy
pepsi
peptic
per
perc
perceivable
perceive

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed directly from the Latin preposition 'per', meaning 'through, during, by means of, or on account of', from which it entered English via Anglo-Norman legal and commercial usage in the Middle Ages.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Per. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/per
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