ultimatum
noun
ul·ti·ma·tum
ˌəl-tə-ˈmā-təm 
-ˈmä-
-ˈmä-
plural ultimatums or ultimata
ˌəl-tə-ˈmā-tə
-ˈmä-
: a final proposition, condition, or demand
especially
: one whose rejection will end negotiations and cause a resort to force or other direct action
Examples of ultimatum in a Sentence
She was given an ultimatum—work harder or lose her job.
issued the ultimatum that the project be finished by the following week, or it would be terminated
Recent Examples on the Web
But his lawyers declined the offer to keep him in jail beyond Friday, and the government issued its 72-hour ultimatum to deport him to Uganda.
—
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025
That threat to a Ukrainian official in the Kherson region involved being dragged by a Russian security officer to a basement and presented with an ultimatum backed by a sledgehammer.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Trump had moved up an ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a settlement.
—Samya Kullab, Arkansas Online, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ultimatum
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025
That threat to a Ukrainian official in the Kherson region involved being dragged by a Russian security officer to a basement and presented with an ultimatum backed by a sledgehammer.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Trump had moved up an ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a settlement.
—Samya Kullab, Arkansas Online, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ultimatum
Cite this Entry
“Ultimatum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ultimatum. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ultimatum
noun
ul·ti·ma·tum
ˌəl-tə-ˈmāt-əm
-ˈmät-
-ˈmät-
plural ultimatums or ultimata
-ə
: a demand that if rejected will bring about an end of peaceful talks and could lead to forceful action
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share