Definition

1. Noun:
   • A daily allowance for living expenses: A fixed sum of money paid for each day, especially to cover meals, lodging, and other incidental costs while traveling for work or official duties.

Usage

• The term per diem is most commonly used as a noun to refer to the daily allowance itself.
• It is often used in corporate, government, and military contexts regarding travel policies.
• It can function as an adjective to describe something paid on a daily basis (e.g., ).
• As an adverb (less common), it means "by the day" or "for each day."

Examples

• Noun:
  • The company provides a generous per diem for employees on international trips.
  • Her per diem covered her hotel and meals during the conference.
  • You must keep all receipts, as expenses exceeding the per diem require special approval.

Advanced Usage

• "Per diem" as an adjective: Describing a rate or payment calculated daily.
  • The consultant works on a per diem basis, not a fixed salary.
• "Per diem" as an adverb: Meaning "per day" or "daily."
  • The interest accrues per diem.

Variants and Related Words

• Daily allowance: A direct synonym for the noun form.
• Stipend: A broader term for a fixed regular sum paid as a salary or allowance.
• Subsistence allowance: A formal term, often used in official contexts, for money to cover basic living costs.

Synonyms

• Daily allowance
• Expense allowance
• Travel allowance
• Subsistence

Related Phrases

• Per diem rate: The specific amount of money allocated for each day.
  • The per diem rate for New York City is higher than for other locations.
• On per diem: The state of receiving or using a daily allowance.
  • While on per diem, you are not required to submit receipts for expenses under the allotted amount.

Adverb

1. one every day
   • we'll save 100 man-hours per diem

Noun

1. a daily allowance for living expenses (especially while traveling in connection with your job)