per diem

1 of 3

adverb

per di·​em (ˌ)pər-ˈdē-əm How to pronounce per diem (audio) -ˈdī- How to pronounce per diem (audio)
: by the day : for each day

per diem

2 of 3

adjective

1
: based on use or service by the day : daily
2
: paid by the day

per diem

3 of 3

noun

plural per diems
1
: a daily allowance
2
: a daily fee

Examples of per diem in a Sentence

Adverb Employees will be given $20 per diem for expenses. Noun He received a $30 per diem for food.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
Part of that is the $247 per diem lawmakers received for meals and other expenses. — Sophia Eppley, AJC.com, 26 June 2026 Lee was working as a per diem temporary deputy sheriff assigned to the office's property services unit which manages property and evidence collected by deputies and investigators. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Adjective
Additionally, in an effort to cut government spending during the Great Depression, the Herbert Hoover administration cut Prohibition agents’ per diem pay from US$6 to $5. — Richard F. Hamm, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2026 The Assembly speaker is the only lawmaker who receives more than the $60,924 salary each member earns, plus per diem expenses. — Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
Its report accused him of diverting funds for fictitious missions and claiming reimbursals for per diem costs and plane tickets for nearly a dozen trips between 2019 and 2024. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 There are a host of other incentives as well, from per diems to boosts to their retirement benefits. — Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for per diem

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Medieval Latin

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of per diem was in the 15th century

Rhymes for per diem

See All Rhymes for per diem

Browse Nearby Words

perdie
per diem
perdition
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Per diem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/per%20diem. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

per diem

adverb
per di·​em
(ˌ)pər-dē-əm, 
-ˈdī-
: by the day : for each day
per diem adjective

Medical Definition

Perdiem

trademark
Per·​di·​em pər-ˈdē-ˌem, -əm How to pronounce Perdiem (audio)
—used for a laxative preparation of psyllium seed husks and senna

Legal Definition

per diem

1 of 3 adverb
per di·​em pər-ˈdē-əm, -ˈdī- How to pronounce per diem (audio)
: by the day : for each day
paid per diem

per diem

2 of 3 adjective
1
: based on use or service by the day
per diem compensation
2
: paid or calculated by the day
per diem interest

per diem

3 of 3 noun
1
: a daily allowance
received a per diem for expenses
2
: a daily fee
paid a per diem for maintenance of the equipment
Etymology

Adverb

Latin

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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