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Law vocabulary · Latin Legal Terms

Per se

Meaning in law, with examples

/ˌpɜː ˈseɪ/adverbCommon term

In law, per se means: A Latin phrase meaning 'by itself' or 'in itself', used to say that something is true without needing anything else to be shown.

In Turkish: başlı başına, kendi başına, tek başına

How it is used

Used in judgments and in educated everyday English: 'not unlawful per se', 'a per se rule', 'negligence per se'. It often appears in negative sentences to say that something is not wrong in itself but may become wrong in certain circumstances.

Example sentences

  1. Using a competitor's name in an advertisement is not per se unlawful.

  2. Delay per se does not prove that the contractor was negligent.

Common collocations

  • not per se
  • per se rule
  • negligence per se
  • unlawful per se
  • prima facieBased on what is first seen or known, before closer examination; in law, enough to support a claim unless the other side proves otherwise.
  • de factoExisting in reality or in practice, even if not officially established by law; the opposite of 'de jure', which means 'by law'.
  • de jureA Latin phrase meaning 'by law' or 'according to law', describing a situation that exists officially and legally, whether or not it exists in practice.
  • inter aliaA Latin expression meaning 'among other things', used to show that only some items from a longer list are being mentioned.

More terms: Latin Legal Terms

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.