ulterior

American  

[uhl-teer-ee-er] / ʌlˈtɪər i ər /

adjective

1. being beyond what is seen or made known; intentionally kept concealed.

   Is there perhaps some ulterior agenda behind their bizarre line of reasoning?

   Synonyms:

   undivulged, undisclosed, covert, hidden

2. coming at a subsequent time or stage; future; further.

   Having sent the letter, the committee considered the matter dealt with and did not recommend any ulterior action.

3. lying beyond or outside of some specified or understood boundary; more remote.

   Building this questionable website was a misuse of the school’s educational technology for purposes ulterior to learning.

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ulterior British  

/ ʌlˈtɪərɪə /

adjective

1. lying beneath or beyond what is revealed, evident, or supposed

   ulterior motives

2. succeeding, subsequent, or later

3. lying beyond a certain line or point

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Other Word Forms

• ulteriorly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of ulterior

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin: “farther,” comparative of ulter “beyond”; akin to ultrā “on the far side”; cf. ultra-

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Explanation

An ulterior interest, argument, or revelation is one you try to keep hidden, like your ulterior motive for weeding your grandmother's garden is to have a conversation with your crush — and Grandma's neighbor — who happens to be outside, too. The adjective ulterior is a Latin word which means “more distant” or “future.” Something that is ulterior may lay the groundwork for what comes later, like a new friend who hangs out with you at your house but whose ulterior motive is to date one of your siblings, or the incredible popularity of a series of novels set in a real place having the ulterior consequences of that place becoming a tourist destination.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ulterior

They certainly seem sincere, but some investors suspected ulterior motives when CEOs were so quick to consider tapping the brakes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

But in siding with those officials, Schiltz saw an ulterior motive.

From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2026

Initially he has ulterior motives, but soon becomes Simon’s mentor, turning the series into a look at the indignities that actors face while pursuing their profession.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

None of these middling elements would be particularly grating if it weren’t so apparent that “Cars” had an ulterior capitalist motive.

From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026

And she wonders why I think she has ulterior motives when she's being nice.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

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