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

The spectacle was followed up with a welcome reception at the Wynn’s Art Deco–themed jazz club Delilah, where the rare automotive expressions found a comparable pairing with Napa’s ne plus ultra of wine. —Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2024

The ne plus ultra of collector cars, the model took first in its class at Le Mans for two consecutive years and won the Tour de France outright in 1963 and 1964. —Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024

As a bonus: Already the ne plus ultra of mother-daughter cringe comedy, Kath & Kim manages nevertheless to up the absurdist ante with the fact that Turner and Craig are just one year apart in age — a surreal detail echoed by one of today’s own cringe cult comedies, PEN15. —Alexis Gunderson, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, (go) no more beyond

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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