per diem

[per dee-uhm, dahy-uhm]

adverb

1. by the day; for each day.

adjective

1. paid by the day.

noun

1. a daily allowance, usually for living expenses while traveling in connection with one's work or being employed at a distance from one's home.

   a per diem for lawmakers while the legislature is in session.

per diem

/ ˈdiːɛm, ˈpɜː ˈdaɪɛm /

adverb

1. every day or by the day

noun

1. 1. an allowance for daily expenses, usually those incurred while working

   2. ( as modifier )

      a per-diem allowance

per diem

1. A Latin phrase meaning “by the day.” Traveling sales reps or government workers often are paid a per diem, meaning an allowance out of which to cover daily expenses while traveling.

Word History and Origins

Origin of per diem¹

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1510–20

Word History and Origins

Origin of per diem¹

from Latin

When To Use

What does per diem mean?

A per diem is a daily allowance of money given to employees to cover expenses, typically while traveling or working away from home. A per diem is intended to cover things like meals and travel expenses.The phrase per diem comes from Latin, in which it means “by the day.” It can be used in a general way in English to mean exactly that, as in You’ll be paid per diem. It can also be used as an adjective meaning paid per day, as in This is a per diem position. In this way, it’s typically used in the context of workers who work on an “as needed” basis—they get called in to work when they are needed, and they get paid for each day, as opposed to earning a fixed salary.Example: When sales reps go on their first big trip, they’re often tempted to blow their entire per diem on a fancy dinner.