What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Per vs On - What's the difference?

per | on |

As a preposition per

is for.

As a noun on is

lamb.

per

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Preposition

(English prepositions)
  • for each
    • Admission is £10 per person.
  • to each, in each ((used in expressing ratios of units))
    • miles per gallon
    beats per minute
  • (medicine) via (the), by (the), through (the) (followed by Latin name for an orifice)
    • Introduce the endoscope per nasum.
    The medication is to be administered per os.
  • in accordance with
    • I parked my car at the curb per your request.
    Usage notes
    * The preposition per is typically followed by a singular noun phrase with no determiner. *: Take one pill per''' day.'' not ''Take one pill '''per a day. * It is sometimes followed by plural noun phrases, almost always determined by 100, 1,000, 100,000, etc. *: The abortion rate in the U.S. has dropped since 1980 from nearly 30 per 1,000 women of childbearing age to less than 20.
    Derived terms
    * per accidens * per annum * per anum * per capita * per cent * per consequens * per contra * per curiam * per diem * * per impossibile * per incuriam * per interim * per maistrie * per mensem * * per minima * per my et per tout * per orem * * per pares * per primam * per primam intentionem * per procurationem * per quod * per saltum * per se * per stirpes
    Related terms
    * per- (as in perfect, perfection and perplex)

    Etymology 2

    shortening of (person), coined by Marge Piercy in (1979)

    Pronoun

  • (neologism) they (singular).
  • * 1997 April 22, "Anthony and Joy Hilbert" (username), "ASB: Info PDQ please re local group rules", in alt.sex.bondage, Usenet :
    • 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?
  • (neologism) them (singular)
  • * 1997 April 22, "Anthony and Joy Hilbert" (username), "ASB: Info PDQ please re local group rules", in alt.sex.bondage, Usenet :
    • 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 ?
  • * {{quote-web
    • , year = 1998 , first = Katherine , last = Phelps , title = Odysseus, She , site = Storytronics , url = http://www.glasswings.com.au/Storytronics/Odysseus/wash/washframe.htm , passage = "Kalypso!" I call out as phe disappears on the horizon. I did not know it, but I loved per . }}
  • * {{quote-book
    • , date = 2006-11-15 , author = Richard Ekins, Dave King , title = The transgender phenomenon , publisher = Sage Publications , isbn = 9780761971634 , id = , lccn = 2006920988 , page = 160 , passage = Whereas Christie had flirted with a lesbian identity prior to surgery, following surgery Christie found perself able to pursue attraction to men, provided they related to per as a non-gendered person. }}
    Derived terms
    * (neologism) perself
    Synonyms
    * (singular) they * (neologism) ey, e, sie, shi, ze
    Hyponyms
    * (as subject) he, she * (as object) him, her

    Adjective

    (head)
  • (neologism) Belonging to per, their (singular).
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year = 2006 , author = Richard Ekins, Dave King , title = The transgender phenomenon , publisher = Sage Publications , isbn = 9780761971634 , id = , lccn = 2006920988 , page = 160 , passage = 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 as a non-gendered person. }}
    Derived terms
    * (neologism) pers
    Synonyms
    * (singular) their * (neologism) eir, hir
    Hyponyms
    * his, her

    See also

    * other gender-neutral pronouns

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * English third person pronouns 1000 English basic words ----

    on

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) (m), , see (m).

    Adjective

    (-)
  • In the state of being active, functioning or operating.
  • Performing according to schedule.
    • Are we still on for tonight?
    Is the show still on ?
  • (UK, informal) Acceptable, appropriate.
    • right on'''''; ''bang '''on'''''; ''not '''on
  • (informal) Destined, normally in the context of a challenge being accepted; involved, doomed.
    • "Five bucks says the Cavs win tonight." ?"You're on !"
    Mike just threw coffee onto Paul's lap. It's on now.
  • (baseball, informal) Having reached a base as a runner and being positioned there, awaiting further action from a subsequent batter.
    • Synonyms
    * base (not informal)

    Adverb

    (-)
  • To an operating state.
    • turn the television on
  • Along, forwards (continuing an action).
    • drive on''', rock '''on
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=May 5 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool , work=BBC Sport , url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17878435 , page= , passage=He met Luis Suarez's cross at the far post, only for Chelsea keeper Petr Cech to show brilliant reflexes to deflect his header on to the bar. Carroll turned away to lead Liverpool's insistent protests that the ball had crossed the line but referee Phil Dowd and assistant referee Andrew Garratt waved play on , with even a succession of replays proving inconclusive.}}
  • In continuation, at length.
    • and so on .
    He rambled on''' and '''on .
  • (cricket) In, or towards the half of the field on the same side as the batsman's legs; the left side for a right-handed batsman; leg.
  • (not US) Later.
    • Ten years on nothing had changed in the village.
    Antonyms
    * off * (to an operating state) off * (later) after, afterward/afterwards, later, subsequently, thence

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above.
  • * Longfellow
    • I stood on the bridge at midnight.
  • At or near; adjacent to.
    • Soon we'll pass a statue on the left.
    The fleet is on the American coast.
  • Covering.
  • At the date of.
  • Some time during the day of.
  • Dealing with the subject of, about, or concerning something.
  • Touching; hanging from.
  • (informal) In the possession of.
  • Because of, or due to.
  • Immediately after.
  • Paid for by.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.}}
  • Away or occupied with (e.g. a scheduled activity).
  • Denoting performance or action by contact with the surface, upper part, or outside of anything; hence, by means of; with.
    • to play on a violin or piano
    Her words made a lasting impression on my mind.
  • (senseid) Regularly taking (a drug).
  • (senseid) Under the influence of (a drug).
  • (mathematics) Having identical domain and codomain.
    • a function on V
  • (mathematics) Having V^n as domain and V'' as codomain, for some set ''V'' and integer ''n .
    • an operator on V
  • (mathematics) Generated by.
  • Supported by (the specified part of itself).
  • At a given time after the start of something; .
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 24, author=Aled Williams, work=BBC Sport
    • , title=[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/14957961.stm Chelsea 4-1 Swansea] , passage=The Spain striker had given Chelsea the lead on 29 minutes but was shown a straight red card 10 minutes later for a rash challenge on Mark Gower.}}
  • In addition to; besides; indicating multiplication or succession in a series.
    • heaps on heaps of food
    mischief on''' mischief; loss '''on loss
    (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) of
  • * Shakespeare
    • Be not jealous on me.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Or have we eaten on the insane root / That takes the reason prisoner?
  • Indicating dependence or reliance; with confidence in.
    • I depended on them for assistance.
    He will promise on certain conditions.
    Do you ever bet on horses?
  • Toward; for; indicating the object of an emotion.
    • Have pity or compassion on him.
  • (obsolete) At the peril of, or for the safety of.
  • * Dryden
    • Hence, on thy life.
  • In the service of; connected with; of the number of.
    • He is on''' a newspaper; I am '''on the committee.
  • By virtue of; with the pledge of.
    • He affirmed or promised on''' his word, or '''on his honour.
  • To the account of; denoting imprecation or invocation, or coming to, falling, or resting upon.
    • On us be all the blame.
    A curse on him!
  • * Bible, Matthew xxvii. 25
    • His blood be on' us and ' on our children.
    Derived terms
    * depend on * on-campus * put on airs *

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (Singapore) To switch on.
    • Can you on the light?
    Synonyms
    *

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Without.
    • Usage notes
    * Usually followed by a perfect participle, as being'', ''having , etc.

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * 100 English basic words English two-letter words 1000 English basic words ----