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per

SayPUR/pɝ/UK/pɜː/

6 meanings of per

Practice

  1. 1
    ratepreposition
    For each one, used to say how much or how many for every one, as in 60 miles per hour.

    The bus drives at about thirty miles per hour.

    The tickets cost ten dollars per person.

    UsageSay per hour or per person, with no a or the.

  2. 2
    according topreposition
    Following the rules, a plan, or what someone has said.

    Per the new rules, all visitors must sign in at the desk.

    We packed the boxes per your instructions.

    UsageSay per your instructions or as per the rules.

    Similarfollowing

  3. 3
    by way ofpreposition
    By way of, or through, a certain route or method.

    The doctor wrote that the pills should be taken per os, which means by mouth.

    He could not swallow, so the nurse gave him the medicine per rectum.

    Similarvia, through

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    preposition
    Used to show where a piece of news or information comes from, such as a person or report.

    Per the weather report, it will rain all weekend.

    The bridge is more than a hundred years old, per the city's records.

    Note
  2. 5
    pronounnonstandard
    A word some people use instead of he, she, him, or her, to avoid saying if someone is male or female.
  3. 6
    adjectivenonstandard
    A word that shows something belongs to a person, without saying whether they are male or female.
    Whereas Christie had flirted with a lesbian identity prior to surgery, following surgery Christie found perself able to pursue per attraction to men, provided they related to per as a non-gendered person.
    2006, Richard Ekins, Dave KingHere, per is a gender-neutral word used instead of his or her.

Practice

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Origin

From Latin per, meaning "through" or "during."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts