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Synonyms

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

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

His Thursday announcement of the latest extension to his ultimatum to Iran occurred just after the S&P 500 registered its biggest daily drop since the start of the conflict.

From MarketWatch

Coming just ahead of his own ultimatum, the move creates a potential off-ramp, at least for now.

From BBC

The ultimatum, made just a day after the US leader said he was considering "winding down" military operations, came as the waterway -- through which a fifth of global oil and gas flows -- remained effectively closed.

From Barron's

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.