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.

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Etymology

Origin of ulterior motive

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

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

A new trailer teased sparks flying between Liberty Savage and Tinhead, but he may not be all he appears as it is revealed he has an ulterior motive.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026

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

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2025

“It’s not unwelcome,” says Andrew Brown, Neon’s president of digital distribution, laughing over Zoom when this possibly devious ulterior motive is mentioned.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2025

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

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Related Words

• ambition
• aspiration
• desire
• determination
• direction
• function
• goal
• idea
• intent
• objective
• plan
• principle
• project
• reason
• scheme
• scope
• view
• wish