ultimatum

[ uhl-tuh-mey-tuh m, -mah- ]

/ ˌʌl təˈmeɪ təm, -ˈmɑ- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR ultimatum ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Words nearby ultimatum

ultimacy, ultimate, ultimate constituent, ultimate strength, ultimately, ultimatum, ultimo, ultimogeniture, ultisol, ulto., ultra

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 ultimatum

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for ultimatum

Obama would then give Congress an ultimatum: Act by a certain date, perhaps a hundred days into the new Congress, or he will.
Can Obama and a Republican Senate Find Common Ground?|Eleanor Clift|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And so Scheunemann offered an ultimatum: Kick Spencer out, or he would leave.
A Racist’s Crazy Ski Resort Smackdown|James Kirchick|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So Giles issues Ellie an ultimatum: Find Matthew Smith and write a killer story, or find yourself a new job.
Toni Collette on ‘The Realistic Joneses,’‘Lucky Them,’ and Crying in ‘The Sixth Sense’|Melissa Leon|June 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is an ultimatum seeking a target in the disorienting matrix of asymmetric warfare.
The History and Logic of Military Ultimatums, From Suez to Crimea|Jacob Siegel|March 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Putin said there had been no ultimatum for Ukrainian forces to surrender, as was widely reported Monday.
Putin Hits Pause|Christopher Dickey|March 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the same time he reached into his breast-pocket for the ultimatum.
The Mad King|Edgar Rice Burroughs
Lorinda's linement looked dark and forbiddin' as Polly stated in her gentle, but firm way this ultimatum.
Samantha on the Woman Question|Marietta Holley
The ultimatum was presented to the Porte, which treated it as a declaration of war.
The Turkish Empire, its Growth and Decay|Lord Eversley
On the morning of the Friday when the ultimatum was to be sent to Smoothbore, Peel returned to the hospital from the town.
The Great Gold Rush|W. H. P. (William Henry Pope) Jarvis
The war spirit is usually fanned by financiers, Kuhn, Loeb and Company giving the ultimatum.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great Philosophers, Volume 8|Elbert Hubbard

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.

ultimatum

noun, plural ul·ti·ma·tums, ul·ti·ma·ta [uhl-tuh-mey-tuh, -mah-] /ˌʌl təˈmeɪ tə, -ˈmɑ-/.

Words related to ultimatum

Words nearby ultimatum

Origin of ultimatum

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ultimatum

Examples from the Web for ultimatum

British Dictionary definitions for ultimatum

noun plural -tums or -ta (-tə)

Word Origin for ultimatum

Cultural definitions for ultimatum