ne plus ultra
noun
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It is the height, the zenith, the ultimate, the crown, the pinnacle. It is the peak, the summit, the crest, the high-water mark. All these expressions, of course, mean "the highest point attainable." But ne plus ultra may top them all when it comes to expressing in a sophisticated way that something is the pink of perfection. It is said that the term's predecessor, non plus ultra, was inscribed on the Pillars of Heracles at the Strait of Gibraltar, which marked the western end of the classical world. The phrase served as a warning: "(Let there) not (be) more (sailing) beyond." The New Latin version ne plus ultra, meaning "(go) no more beyond," found its way into English in the early 1600s.
Examples of ne plus ultra in a Sentence
Liam Hess, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
If nothing else, and even as a person not steeped in Wicked lore and admiration, the casting of Erivo and Grande is ne plus ultra, and the deep respect and love the performers share for each other, on and off the screen, really keeps this particular trifle afloat.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2025
While that is certainly true, there’s no denying that Rolliefest represents the ne plus ultra of watch meetups.
—Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2025
Offset is the ne plus ultra of verbal polish.
—Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ne plus ultra
Cite this Entry
“Ne plus ultra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ne%20plus%20ultra. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.
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