/ ˌpɜː ˈdiːem; NAmE ˌpɜːr/ adjective , noun
(from Latin , especially NAmE )
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] ( of money ) for each day :
a per diem allowance
► per diem adverb :
He agreed to pay at specified rates per diem.
■ noun
[ U , C ] money paid, for example to employees, for things they need to buy every day :
He will get $14 000 a year in per diem to help with the higher costs of living in Washington.
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: Latin .