ultimatum

noun

ul·​ti·​ma·​tum ˌəl-tə-ˈmā-təm  -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

Synonyms

• claim
• demand
• dun
• importunity
• requisition

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

August 14 through 16 looks especially testy for you, and could deliver the ultimatum from the universe that forces you to seek an alternate route around the roadblock. —Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 July 2024

Price was given the ultimatum this month after the California Attorney General’s Office moved to toss the 1991 murder conviction of Curtis Lee Ervin, citing concerns that an Alameda County prosecutor wrongly sought to keep Black residents from the jury. —Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024

On this day in 1914: Austria-Hungary issued a series of ultimatums to Serbia that included allowing Austria-Hungary to investigate who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, and demanded that Serbia cease all anti-Austrian propaganda and dissolve its nationalist organizations. —Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 23 July 2024

Uncertain ultimatum As his NATO news conference concluded, Biden laid down a gauntlet. —Marianna Sotomayor, Washington Post, 19 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Medieval Latin, neuter of ultimatus final

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ultimatum

noun

ul·​ti·​ma·​tum ˌəl-tə-ˈmāt-əm  -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