What does "per" mean?
Initialism of protein efficiency ratio.
Per
/pɜː/ adj, noun, prep, pron
adj, noun, prep, pron ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Initialism of protein efficiency ratio.
- Grammar: per is listed as adj, noun, prep, pron.
- Nearest alternatives: /, a, accommodated to, according.
- Useful contrasts: pro-, under-, against.
- Usage evidence: We can travel through time. And we do at the remarkable rate of one second per second.
How to use "per"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "per" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "per" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "per" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "per" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "per" is acting as adj, noun, prep, pron in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "/" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "per", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Initialism of protein efficiency ratio. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 2 Initialism of price-earnings ratio. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Adjective
- 1 Belonging to per, their (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular possessive adjective, coordinate with gendered his and her. nonstandard, not-comparable, rare
"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."
Preposition
- 1 For each.
"Admission is £10 per person."
- 2 To each, in each (used in expressing ratios of units).
"12 inches per foot"
- 3 By the, by means of the, via the, through the.
"Introduce the endoscope per nasum."
- 4 In accordance with, as per
"I parked my car at the curb per your request."
- 5 According to
"Bucks trading for Patrick Beverley, per sources"
Pronoun
- 1 They (singular). Gender-neutral neologistic third-person singular subject pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns he and she. gender-neutral, nominative, nonstandard, rare, singular, third-person
"This is the same place the Houghtons came from? The place where someone we interacted with thought of going into law as a profession, decided per couldn't because per was a bdsmer, and most of the USAmerican bdsmers per was discussing it with agreed with per?"
- 2 Them (singular) Neologistic gender-neutral third-person singular object pronoun, suggested for use in place of him and her. gender-neutral, nominative, nonstandard, rare, singular, third-person
"This is the same place the Houghtons came from? The place where someone we interacted with thought of going into law as a profession, decided per couldn't because per was a bdsmer, and most of the USAmerican bdsmers per was discussing it with agreed with per?"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"We can travel through time. And we do at the remarkable rate of one second per second."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "per"?
Common synonyms include: /, a, accommodated to, according, according to, according to.
How do you use "per" in a sentence?
We can travel through time. And we do at the remarkable rate of one second per second.
How do you pronounce "per"?
Pronounced /pɜː/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Latin per (“through, during”), from Proto-Indo-European *per. Doublet of par.
Etymology 2
Shortening of person, coined by Marge Piercy in Woman on the Edge of Time (1979)