ultimatum
Americannoun
plural
ultimatums, ultimata-
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.
-
a final proposal or statement of conditions.
noun
-
a final communication by a party, esp a government, setting forth conditions on which it insists, as during negotiations on some topic
-
any final or peremptory demand, offer, or proposal
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!"
Vocabulary lists containing ultimatum
Things Fall Apart
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Born a Crime
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World War I
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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.
As the final hours tick down, there has been little indication that Iran is ready to agree to Trump's ultimatum.
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
His extension last week of an ultimatum on attacking Iranian energy infrastructure did nothing to calm markets, and investors seem to be reacting less to his comments than to tangible news from the Persian Gulf.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 29, 2026
Bush’s 48-hour ultimatum for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq had just expired.
From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026
The or-else attached to this ultimatum is big.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026
Once you give an ultimatum, you have to mean it.
From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia
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.
