Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

ulterior motive

American  
[uhl-teer-ee-er moh-tiv] / ʌlˈtɪər i ər ˈmoʊ tɪv /

noun

  1. a secret reason for doing something; a purpose, often the main purpose, that is kept hidden.

    When his enemy the Sheriff of Nottingham calls for an archery contest, Robin Hood suspects an ulterior motive, namely, to flush Robin out of hiding.

    It turns out she had an ulterior motive for being so friendly and helpful—she was a con artist hoping to sign me up.

Etymology

Origin of ulterior motive

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But there is an ulterior motive to her choice that won’t come into focus until the second half of the movie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Federline denies having an ulterior motive beyond wanting to finally share his side of this infamous saga.

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2025

But there’s an ulterior motive at play, according to Bruce.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2025

But the “Severance” creator reveals an ulterior motive in that confrontation.

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2025

“You think there's an ulterior motive for everything nice I do.”

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.