Per se is a loan phrase and was originally a Latin phrase that translates to the adjectives “by itself” or “in and of itself.” In English, we use it to indicate that something is thought of …

(Definition of per se from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Oct 4, 2022 · Per se means “by itself” or “intrinsically,” and it’s often used to avoid making generalizations, as in I don’t dislike pizza per se, I’m just not in the mood for it.

Per se is handy when you need to single out a particular element of a bigger thing. So you might say, "The song, per se, wasn't a bad choice; it was your singing voice that was atrocious." In …

Dec 14, 2025 · A proposition is per se known as regards itself , but not per se known as regards us, when it has no medium of proof a priori, nor is its truth directly and immediately evident to …

Jun 12, 2025 · The correct spelling of the Latin phrase is per se, which translates to “by itself.” It’s used to state that something is inherently true when it’s considered on its own, rather than in …

Per se means 'by itself' or 'in itself', and is used when you are talking about the qualities of one thing considered on its own, rather than in connection with other things.

We generally use per se to distinguish between something in its narrow sense and some larger thing that it represents. Thus, you may have no objection to educational testing per se, but …

used meaning ‘by itself’ to show that you are referring to something on its own, rather than in connection with other things. The drug is not harmful per se, but is dangerous when taken with …

Jun 30, 2025 · “Per se” is the correct phrase—rooted in Latin, meaning “by itself” or “in itself.” It’s commonly used to clarify that something is being considered in isolation, apart from …