ne plus ultra

noun

ne plus ul·​tra ˌnā-ˌpləs-ˈəl-trə 

ˌnē-

1

: the highest point capable of being attained : acme

2

: the most profound degree of a quality or state

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms

• acme
• apex
• apogee
• capstone
• climax
• crescendo
• crest
• crown
• culmination
• head
• height
• high noon
• high-water mark
• meridian
• noon
• noontime
• peak
• pinnacle
• sum
• summit
• tip-top
• top
• zenith

Examples of ne plus ultra in a Sentence

this new sports car is being billed as the ne plus ultra of automotive achievement

Recent Examples on the Web

By contrast, and fortunately for us, sitting just to Monsieur Pinault’s left in this shot, is the ne plus ultra of global peacocks and not least, the most buff aging rocker there is, Lenny Kravitz, age 60. —Guy Martin, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024

The Paris couture runways are known for being ne plus ultra for both boundary-pushing design and formidable craftsmanship, but the style outside shows can be just as inspirational. —Alex Badia, WWD, 2 July 2024

White Barn Inn, hands-down the ne plus ultra of fine dining in the area, has opened Little Barn in the abutting room—a cozy and refined-but-rustic space rolling out cosseting dishes of buttery skate wing schnitzel. —Alexandra Hall, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2023

This year marks the 74th anniversary of Formula 1, the ne plus ultra of motorsport, and James Allen has been covering more than 30 of those seasons as a journalist, broadcaster, and industry insider. —Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, (go) no more beyond

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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