ultimatum

CEFRC1

/ˌʌl.tɪˈmeɪ.təm/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A final demand backed by a threat of action.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    An intended final statement of terms or conditions made by one party to another in a negotiation.

Examples

  • A deadline was included in the ultimatum.

  • The People set an ultimatum for the government at the protest.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
3
Parts of speech
1

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meaning

  1. A final statement of terms or conditions made by one party to another, especially one that expresses a threat of reprisal or war if the terms are not met before some specified date and time.

More examples

In context

  • Dan gave Linda an ultimatum.

  • . . . But he was directed to present a memorial, urging many reasons for the restitution of the captures made before the war, to represent in its full force, the benefit that would arise, both to France and England, from the total desertion of the war in Germ...

  • 1724 William Wynne: The Life of Sir Leoline Jenkins, Judge of the High-Court of Admiralty . . . Thirdly, That they, the Dutch, 5 or 6 Weeks after they had received these Letters, (of 12th of July) call'd for an Ultimatum, so they termed the dernier mot, from...

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The boss gave the employee an blank to finish the work by Friday or be fired.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Latin ultimatus (“late, last final”), from Latin ultimus (“extreme, last, furthest, farthest, final”).