ultra

1 of 3

adjective

ul·​tra ˈəl-trə 

: going beyond others or beyond due limit : extreme

ultra

2 of 3

noun

: one that is ultra : extremist

ultra-

3 of 3

prefix

1

: beyond in space : on the other side : trans-

ultraviolet

2

: beyond the range or limits of : transcending : super-

ultramicroscopic

3

: beyond what is ordinary, proper, or moderate : excessively : extremely

ultramodern

Synonyms of ultra

Adjective

• extreme
• radical
• rabid
• revolutionary

Examples of ultra in a Sentence

Adjective

espouses a kind of ultra conservatism that even some members of his own party cannot support

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The technology can take ultra-low-grade tailings with just 11 percent iron and turn them into concentrate with an iron grade of 65 percent. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026

Wall Street veteran Ed Yardeni has dismissed warnings of an imminent debt crisis and instead thinks yields are just going back to normal, before the Great Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a era of ultra-low rates. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026

Noun

The club’s ultras celebrated by serenading him with a post-match chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’. — Tom Williams, New York Times, 9 July 2026

Political dissent can be harshly policed outside the stadium, but domestic clubs’ most ardent fan groups, often called ultras, are brazenly outspoken in their cheering. — Dan Greene, New Yorker, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

ultra-

Noun

ultra-

Prefix

Latin, from ultra beyond, adverb & preposition, from *ulter situated beyond — more at ulterior

First Known Use

Adjective

1818, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1819, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ultra

• ne plus ultra
• ultra-civilized
• ultra-commercial
• ultra-pasteurized
• ultra-processed
• ultra-rare
• ultra vires
• ultra-wide

Kids Definition

ultra

1 of 2 adjective

ul·​tra

ˈəl-trə

: going beyond others : extreme

ultra-

2 of 2 prefix

1

: beyond : exceeding the range or limits of

ultraviolet

2

: more than is usual

ultramodern

Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin ultra "beyond"