ultimatum
[ uhl-tuh-mey-tuhm, -mah- ]
/ ˌʌl təˈmeɪ təm, -ˈmɑ- /
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noun, plural ul·ti·ma·tums, ul·ti·ma·ta [uhl-tuh-mey-tuh, -mah-]. /ˌʌl təˈmeɪ tə, -ˈmɑ-/.
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.
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Origin of ultimatum
1725–35; <New Latin, noun use of neuter of Late Latin ultimātus.See ultimate
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ultimatum
ultimate, ultimatumWords nearby ultimatum
ultimate, ultimate constituent, ultimately, ultimate strength, ultima Thule, ultimatum, ultimo, ultimogeniture, ultisol, ulto., ultra
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for ultimatum
ultimatum
/ (ˌʌltɪˈmeɪtəm) /
noun plural -tums or -ta (-tə)
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
Word Origin for ultimatum
C18: from New Latin, neuter of ultimatus ultimate
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
Cultural definitions for ultimatum
ultimatum
[ (ul-tuh-may-tuhm) ]
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.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.