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• ultra
  ultra

  adjective

  going beyond what is usual or ordinary; excessive; extreme.
• ultra-
  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 ).

ultra

¹ American  

[uhl-truh] / ˈʌl trə /

adjective

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

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noun

• ultras
  plural

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 American  

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 ).

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ultra ¹ British  

/ ˈʌltrə /

adjective

1. extreme or immoderate, esp in beliefs or opinions

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noun

1. an extremist

ultra- ² British  

prefix

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

   ultramicroscopic

2. extreme or extremely

   ultramodern

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• ultras
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ultra¹

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

Origin of ultra-²

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

Explanation

Use the adjective ultra to describe something extreme, like your ultra strict parents or your own ultra radical political views. If your sister is ultra uptight and your English teacher's syllabus is ultra traditional, it means that both of them hold unusual opinions, far outside of the normal range. Neither would be a good fit for your own ultra relaxed philosophy of life. Ultra means "beyond" in Latin, and its meaning of "outside the norm" comes from the French word ultra-royaliste, or "extreme royalist." Eventually, it was shortened to just ultra, to describe any extreme opinion.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ultra ultra- ultras

Qantas's "Project Sunrise" using ultra long-haul planes has been on the cards for the past nine years -- but has been repeatedly delayed.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

We might also consider completely removing the term ultra because it is weirdly emotional and sounds more like a meme than science.

From Slate ● Jul. 12, 2026

Rather than modifying the ink with surfactants or chemically altering the particles, they dispersed nanoscale ultra fine bubbles throughout the liquid.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

They point out that, while Australia and New Zealand’s geography justify a scaled ultra long-haul fleet, Qantas’s northern hemisphere peers don’t appear to have sufficient use cases to warrant the investment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

A year later Joseph Glanvill published Plus ultra: or the Progress and Advancement of Knowledge since the Days of Aristotle.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

In particular, she said, “fares for Etihad’s unique, ultra-luxury, ultra- private offering are not subject to discounts or promotional fares.”

From Forbes ● Mar. 8, 2015

For the ultra- dedicated gamer in your life, you can pick up Dragon Age Inquisition, which has a 40 hour story and about 200 hours worth of stuff to do in total.

From Forbes ● Nov. 28, 2014

This type of story, says Michael Hurt, a former English teacher who is now completing a P.H.D. in Seoul, has helped turn teachers into an "easy target" for ultra- nationalists.

From Time ● Dec. 24, 2010

Alas, all three services are still enamored of ultra-complex, ultra- expensive weapons systems.

From Time Magazine Archive

Be sure to moisturize with an ultra- hydrating serum like The Corporation’s new Skin So Right B14 Complex for Total Cell Renewal, made with essential vitamins, minerals, and concentrated yak’s bladder.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

He meets Brazil icon Cafu, Scotland legend John McGinn, Sao Paulo ultras, US football fans and many others.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

They organized visits from true-blue French soccer ultras for a cultural exchange: the Europeans taught chants while the Texans taught barbecue.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

Palme d’Or winners and catwalk icons gather in the private boxes while shirtless ultras sing themselves hoarse behind the goals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 4, 2026

The Real ultras dressed all in white behind the goal had been chanting and clapping until that point, but when the Norwegian's spot-kick rippled the net in front of them they were silenced.

From BBC ● Dec. 10, 2025

Lincoln was already linked with the ultras on the question, so that it was said by lawyers applied to, afraid as political aspirants: "Go to that Lincoln, the liberator; he will defend a fugitive-slave case!"

From The Lincoln Story Book A Judicious Collection of the Best Stories and Anecdotes of the Great President, Many Appearing Here for the First Time in Book Form by Henry Llewellyn Williams