“Per se” is a Latin phrase that means “by itself” or “in itself.” In English, it is commonly used to indicate that something is being considered solely on its own merits or in its own right, without reference to any other factors. For instance, when someone says, “Driving fast isn’t inherently dangerous per se, but it can become dangerous in certain conditions,” they are implying that high speed alone may not be inherently dangerous, but it can become dangerous depending on other factors.