per se

American  

[pur sey, see, per] / pɜr ˈseɪ, ˈsi, pər /

adverb

1. by, of, for, or in itself; intrinsically.

   This candidate is not a pacifist per se, but he is in favor of peaceful solutions when practicable.

   Synonyms:

   fundamentally, indigenously, inherently, innately

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per se British  

/ ˈpɜː ˈseɪ /

adverb

1. by or in itself; intrinsically

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Etymology

Origin of per se

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin per sē “by itself,” translation of Greek kath’ autó

Example Sentences

That some things are tasteless not because they’re uncool, per se, but because they are, as Hayao Miyazaki once said, “an insult to life itself.”

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026

De Zylva argues this misunderstands the point: "The purpose of the green belt isn't to be green per se, it is to be a buffer to prevent sprawl."

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

So the argument is not so much about risk per se as it is about liquidity versus higher income.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

If one party isn’t as aware of what’s going on as the other party, this isn’t an objectively “right” or “wrong” vignette, per se.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

I didn’t care about the politics per se, but I also didn’t want to screw anything up.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama