ultimatum
Americannoun
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Born a Crime
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
World War I
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Iran mocked his ultimatum, dismissing it as "helpless, nervous and stupid".
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
“After another day of market stress” on Thursday, they said, the ultimatum was “delayed further to April 6.”
From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 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
France, like Russia, rejected the German ultimatum and declared a general mobilization.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
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.
