PER SE Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

per se

[ pur sey, see, per ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

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: , , ,

per se

/ ˈpɜː ˈseɪ /

adverb

by or in itself; intrinsically

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of per se¹

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

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of per se¹

Latin

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“Sacramento” might not be about California’s capital per se, but it perfectly reflects the latent magic so many people have experienced in the city it’s named for.

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Treading old territory to make new paths is a fine exercise, though that’s not what "Black Mirror" does, per se, with this year’s slate of episodes.

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I feel like you guys will also agree, it’s not as dramatic, per se, as the other storylines.

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“The Expert of Subtle Revisions” isn’t a political book, per se, nor is it moralizing.

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When I first started writing it, I wasn’t even like writing an hour, per se.

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