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.
It is not the money per se that makes them unhappy, but the single-minded pursuitof that money.
There is no indication that just having a degree per se improves your chance of gettinga job.
Synonyms: in itself, essentially, as such, in essence More Synonyms of per se
per se in British English
(ˈpɜː ˈseɪ)
adverb
by or in itself; intrinsically
Word origin
Latin
per se in American English
(pər ˈseɪ; pərˈsi)
by (or in) itself; intrinsically
Word origin
L
Examples of 'per se' in a sentence
per se
Not the best course per se; nor the one in the most humble surroundings but the best combination of the two.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
(adverb)
Definition
in itself
I'm not opposed to capital punishment per se.
Synonyms
in itself
essentially
the belief that geniuses are essentially quite different from ordinary people
as such
in essence
In essence, we share the same ideology.
by itself
of itself
by definition
intrinsically
Are people intrinsically good or evil?
by its very nature
Additional synonyms
in the sense of essentially
the belief that geniuses are essentially quite different from ordinary people