per se
Americanadverb
adverb
Etymology
Origin of per se
First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin per sē “by itself,” translation of Greek kath’ autó
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This is not an insurance policy, per se, it’s an optional agreement that waives your financial responsibility if the rental car is damaged or stolen.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Although “Other Possible Worlds” focuses on Klee’s last decade, its thematic emphasis isn’t on Klee’s late work per se, but his art as “a form of resistance to Nazi ideology.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
"If you went to Sardis in 1950 there were a few things kind of sticking up above ground, but there was nothing really to see, per se," Anderson said.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 25, 2026
"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
Dr. Atchley, while an admirer of Dr. Greenfield, isn’t convinced that technology is addictive, per se, though Dr. Atchley remains open to the debate.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.