ultimatum

American  

[uhl-tuh-mey-tuhm, -mah-] / ˌʌl təˈmeɪ təm, -ˈmɑ- /

noun

• ultimatums,
  plural
• ultimata
  plural

1. a final, uncompromising demand or set of terms issued by a party to a dispute, the rejection of which may lead to a severance of relations or to the use of force.

2. a final proposal or statement of conditions.

---

ultimatum British  

/ ˌʌltɪˈmeɪtəm /

noun

1. a final communication by a party, esp a government, setting forth conditions on which it insists, as during negotiations on some topic

2. any final or peremptory demand, offer, or proposal

---

ultimatum Cultural  

1. A formal message delivered from one government to another threatening war if the receiving government fails to comply with conditions set forth in the message. For example, after the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand in 1914, the government of Austria sent an ultimatum to Serbia, which Austria held responsible for the assassination.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• ultimata
  plural
• ultimatums
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ultimatum

First recorded in 1725–35; from New Latin, noun use of neuter of Late Latin ultimātus “ended, finished,” past participle of ultimāre “to come to an end”; see ultimate

Explanation

An ultimatum is a final demand attached to a threat, like "If you don't do it, I'll never speak to you again." Ultimatums are serious business. The noun ultimatum has Latin roots meaning "final" and that's still what the word means today. It is the final demand, usually with an implicit or explicit "or else" attached to it. Often, the person on the receiving end of the ultimatum rebels, however, and will say something like, "Don't give me any ultimatums!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ultimatum ultimata ultimatums

In September, he dangled a naked ultimatum: Either ABC “took action” against Kimmel, or the network would face severe regulatory consequences.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

Hanging over diplomatic talks since April has been the White House’s ultimatum that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

But in early 2018, ahead of a planned tour, Buckingham was fired from Fleetwood Mac after Nicks allegedly issued the band an ultimatum threatening to leave if he wasn’t cut.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

He also denied issuing an ultimatum, saying he was focused on winning the war.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

In the silence that follows Lyme’s ultimatum, he speaks up.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

They also started wider European hostilities by sending ultimata to Russia and France, and by declaring war when those ultimata were rejected - indeed fabricating a pretext that French aircraft had bombed Nuremberg.

From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2014

Cried Wagner later, still angry over the deadline demand: "They don't give me ultimata!"

From Time Magazine Archive

The ultimata were immediately communicated to Premier Michalakopoulos and, after a Cabinet Council, the Government presented its collective resignation to the Provisional President.

From Time Magazine Archive

Of course they have the instructions of the President, with his ultimata, etc., but they will strive earnestly for peace.

From A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital by John Beauchamp Jones

There is no reason to doubt the fact, that whatever the ultimata issue of the struggle, the immediate fate of the country was decided on that night.

From The O'Donoghue Tale Of Ireland Fifty Years Ago by Charles James Lever

“We don’t believe in deadlines or ultimatums to secure Iran’s national interests.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026

But Baqaei said Tehran "never accepts ultimatums" and that he could not confirm any such message was received.

From Barron's ● Feb. 2, 2026

The McKinsey and EY studies highlight that open communication and collaboration unlock AI’s potential far more effectively than ultimatums.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 18, 2025

In the latest India-Pakistan stand-off, there were no ultimatums, no red buttons.

From BBC ● May 13, 2025

What he needed was someone who was focused and determined, someone who would set ultimatums and stick to them.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

Related Words

• warning