ultimatum

American  

[uhl-tuh-mey-tuhm, -mah-] / ˌʌl təˈmeɪ təm, -ˈmɑ- /

noun

plural

ultimatums, ultimata

1. 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.

2. a final proposal or statement of conditions.

---

ultimatum British  

/ ˌʌltɪˈmeɪtəm /

noun

1. a final communication by a party, esp a government, setting forth conditions on which it insists, as during negotiations on some topic

2. any final or peremptory demand, offer, or proposal

---

ultimatum Cultural  

1. A formal message delivered from one government to another threatening war if the receiving government fails to comply with conditions set forth in the message. For example, after the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand in 1914, the government of Austria sent an ultimatum to Serbia, which Austria held responsible for the assassination.

---

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”; ultimate

Example Sentences

Their ultimatum was accepted, success has followed, and now they are considered the best in the world.

From BBC

Evans strongly protested removing her signature tooth gap but gave in when Banks essentially gave her an ultimatum: Get rid of the gap or go home.

From Los Angeles Times

Mukanda, whose wife had given birth weeks earlier, ignored the rebel ultimatum and instead tried to harvest his crops.

From The Wall Street Journal

Faced with that ultimatum, factory workers opened the gate and released him, according to Al-Mamun.

From BBC

But Baqaei said Tehran "never accepts ultimatums" and that he could not confirm any such message was received.

From Barron's

Related Words

• warning