ultra
[ uhl-truh ]
/ ˈʌl trə /
Save This Word!
adjective
going beyond what is usual or ordinary; excessive; extreme.
noun
an extremist, as in politics, religion, fashion, etc.
(initial capital letter)Military. the British code name for intelligence gathered by decrypting German wireless communications enciphered on the Enigma machine during World War II.
QUIZ
ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?
We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.
Question 1 of 8
Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?
Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing
Origin of ultra
Independent use of ultra-, or shortening of words prefixed with it
Other definitions for ultra (2 of 2)
ultra-
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).
Origin of ultra-
<Latin ultrā (adv. and preposition) on the far side (of), beyond, derivative of *ult(e)r- located beyond
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use ultra in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for ultra (1 of 2)
ultra
/ (ˈʌltrə) /
adjective
extreme or immoderate, esp in beliefs or opinions
noun
an extremist
Word Origin for ultra
C19: from Latin: beyond, from ulter distant
British Dictionary definitions for ultra (2 of 2)
ultra-
prefix
beyond or surpassing a specified extent, range, or limitultramicroscopic
extreme or extremelyultramodern
Word Origin for ultra-
from Latin ultrā beyond; see ultra
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
Medical definitions for ultra
ultra-
pref.
Beyond; on the other side of:ultraviolet.
Beyond the range, scope, or limit of:ultrasonic.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.