adverb
per se
pur SAY
Per se (adverb) means In itself, considered on its own without anything else attached to it. Example: “The policy is not unfair per se, but it works badly in practice.”
adverb
1
In itself, considered on its own without anything else attached to it.
"The policy is not unfair per se, but it works badly in practice."
"I don't dislike the job per se, I dislike the commute."
How to use per se
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOn its own, without counting anything else.
When to use it
Formal in origin but now common in speech. Usually placed straight after the noun or adjective it qualifies.
Memory tip
It is per se, two words, never 'per say' or 'per-say'. It is also not italicised in ordinary modern writing.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
as such
per say
by definition
Common pairings
not X per se
illegal per se
wrong per se
negligence per se
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The policy is not unfair _____, but it works badly in practice.
Etymology
Latin, literally 'by itself', from per 'by, through' and se 'itself'.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for per se
See all rhymes for per se →Frequently asked questions
Is it per se or per say?
It is per se. The phrase is Latin for 'by itself'; per say is a misspelling produced by hearing the phrase rather than reading it.
What is the difference between per se and as such?
Per se means 'in itself, taken alone' and is used to isolate a thing from its context. As such means 'in that capacity' or, loosely in modern use, 'therefore'. They overlap in sentences like 'it is not a crime per se', but as such cannot always replace per se.
What does negligence per se mean in law?
It means an act is treated as negligent automatically because it broke a safety statute, so the claimant does not have to prove that a reasonable person would have acted differently. Proving the breach and that it caused the harm is enough.
What is the meaning of per se?
"per se" (adverb) means in itself, considered on its own without anything else attached to it.
