ultra

¹

[uhl-truh]

adjective

1. going beyond what is usual or ordinary; excessive; extreme.

noun

1. an extremist, as in politics, religion, fashion, etc.

2. Military.,  Ultra, the British code name for intelligence gathered by decrypting German wireless communications enciphered on the Enigma machine during World War II.

ultra-

²

1. a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, with the basic meaning “on the far side of, beyond.” In relation to the base to which it is prefixed, ultra- has the senses “located beyond, on the far side of ” (ultramontane; ultraviolet ), “carrying to the furthest degree possible, on the fringe of ” (ultraleft; ultramodern ), “extremely” (ultralight ); nouns to which it is added denote, in general, objects, properties, phenomena, etc., that surpass customary norms, or instruments designed to produce or deal with such things (ultramicroscope; ultrasound; ultrastructure ).

ultra

¹

/ ˈʌltrə /

adjective

1. extreme or immoderate, esp in beliefs or opinions

noun

1. an extremist

ultra-

²

prefix

1. beyond or surpassing a specified extent, range, or limit

   ultramicroscopic

2. extreme or extremely

   ultramodern

Word History and Origins

Origin of ultra¹

Independent use of ultra-, or shortening of words prefixed with it

Origin of ultra²

From Latin ultrā (adverb and preposition) “on the far side,” derivative of ulter (unrecorded) “located beyond”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ultra¹

C19: from Latin: beyond, from ulter distant

Origin of ultra²

from Latin ultrā beyond; see _ultra

Example Sentences

Norman even notes that he’s still a lifetime member of the PGA Tour and wants to see it be “ultra successful.”

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When they come out of the box, balls have a slick coating with ultra pointy ends.

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The clout of local mutual funds and ultra high-net worth individuals has been growing, Pershad added, noting that 2024 was the first time domestic institutional investors had a bigger presence than foreign ones.

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Nash, CEO of Nash Kelly Global—a New Zealand immigration advisory firm for the ultra wealthy—said in an email.

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Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition relies on the support of ultra nationalist extremists who thought they were close to their dream of expelling Gaza's Palestinians and replacing them with Jewish settlers.

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