perse

1 of 3

adjective (1)

ˈpərs 

: of a dark grayish blue resembling indigo

per se

2 of 3

adverb

(ˌ)pər-ˈsā,

 also  per-ˈsā,

or

(ˌ)pər-ˈsē 

: by, of, or in itself or oneself or themselves : as such : intrinsically

per se

3 of 3

adjective (2)

: being such inherently, clearly, or as a matter of law

a per se conflict of interest

Did you know?

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 rather to the way testing is done. An opposition party may attack a president's policy not because they dislike the policy per se but because they want to weaken the president. And when New York's police chief decided to crack down on small crimes, it wasn't the small crimes per se that were his target, but instead the larger crimes which he believed would be reduced because of this new approach.

Examples of perse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

But while opera may not be Bey’s wheelhouse, per se, she would not be lost at sea. —Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024

This can sometimes be tricky, particularly if the entity is not a per se corporation. —Matthew Roberts, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Unlike removing misinformation per se, removing information that enables harm can work even if users don’t trust the platform’s motives at all. —Scott Duke Kominers, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2024

Perhaps in an effort to position Plandemic: The Musical as more contemporary in concept, Joe Biden appears on televisions as president, urging vaccination, and there is no mention of Covid per se. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 10 Mar. 2024

That’s not a problem, per se: A pop concert is a theater of personality and craft, not one of plot or character development. —Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024

Bobbing heads, jumping and waving glow sticks, the crowd didn’t get hyped up, per se. —Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2024

None of these are cinematic sins per se, but since the central players and plot develop at a glacial pace, the stylistic choices are little more than white noise humming through (and adding to) the slog. —Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024

By tapping and touching, the sightless person does not feel the cane per se but the objects—the curb, the doorway—that are felt through the tool, in the same way sighted people experience these objects through their eyes. —Chip Colwell, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024

Adjective

Kendall has always been on a pretty individual, and individualistic, path in terms of his pursuit of the crown, per se. —Clark Collis, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2023

Harden and the Rockets didn't enter the 2020 playoffs as championship favorites per se, though the partnership between Houston's superstar and then-co-star Russell Westbrook was quite successful for much of the 2019-20 season. —Michael Shapiro, Chron, 15 Mar. 2023

Instead, Lucid leaders see a bright future in cars that aim for maximum efficiency — rather than range per se — via smaller, more-affordable batteries. —IEEE Spectrum, 11 Mar. 2023

The band’s dazzling creations were not jazz, fusion or world music, per se, but a beguiling combination of all of them — and more. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2023

This price point is exceptional for beginners who want to try juicing for the first time, per se, for its health benefits. —Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Nov. 2022

Indeed, many in the past have made strong points that disruption like this, per se, is overrated. —Jens Martin Skibsted, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022

Not pita, per se — there’s no pocket, for one — but closer to a compact version of laffa, the high-hydration Iraqi bread that was an early inspiration. —oregonlive, 16 Dec. 2022

While not a debate — per se — the two candidates who are hoping to win your vote on Nov. 8 sat with me separately for two segments, answering essentially the same questions. —Carol Cain, Detroit Free Press, 30 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English pers, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin persus

Adverb

Latin

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1574, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

circa 1655, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

per se

1 of 2 adverb

pər-ˈsā, ˌper-; pər-ˈsē 

1

: inherently, strictly, or by operation of statute, constitutional provision or doctrine, or case law

the transaction was illegal per se

see also negligence per se at negligence, nuisance per se at nuisance

2

: without proof of special damages or reference to extrinsic circumstances

defamatory statements that were actionable per se

compare per quod

per se

2 of 2 adjective

: being such inherently, clearly, or by operation of statute, constitutional provision or doctrine, or case law

it is clear that licensing of adult entertainment establishments is not a per se violation of the First Amendment

—Club Southern Burlesque, Inc. v. City of Carrollton, 457 S.E.2d 816 (1995)

a per se conflict of interest

Etymology

Adverb

Latin, by, of, or in itself

Biographical Definition

Perse

biographical name

St. John see Aléxis Saint-Léger léger