per diem

1 of 3

adverb

per di·​em (ˌ)pər-ˈdē-əm  -ˈdī- 

: 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

Adverb

That means fewer commissions paid out to travel agents, which is included in gross per diems but netted out of the net per diem line. —Michelle Fox, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2024

Beyond the duty time pay protection, there’s also usually a small per diem (ranging from around $2 to $3 per hour) while on duty, meant to cover paying for food and other expenses that pop up while working. —Whizy Kim, Vox, 3 Sep. 2024

Noun

In addition to the raises, the new Delta contract includes improvements in benefits like vacation accrual, per diem payments while traveling, scheduling and retirement contributions. —Niraj Chokshi, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2023

An estimated 35 of the state’s 92 per diem interpreters plan on participating, Howe said. —Tonya Alanez, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Feb. 2023

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

Legal Definition

per diem

1 of 3 adverb

per di·​em pər-ˈdē-əm, -ˈdī- 

: 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