Showing results for "per se"

SEE ALSO:

Translations dictionary results for per se.

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

---

per se British  

/ ˈpɜː ˈseɪ /

adverb

1. by or in itself; intrinsically

---

Etymology

Origin of per se

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

Example Sentences

"We don't use it as a motivation per se, because that motivation is built within the players," says Jozak.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

And while there’s nothing wrong with that per se, being so confined to a single location is one of the movie’s most glaring missteps.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

“But it’s not just the SpaceX IPO per se, it’s a bigger, broader excitement among investors for space investment in general.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

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

But no one is born with skills in English composition per se.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker