ultimatum

noun

ul·​ti·​ma·​tum ˌəl-tə-ˈmā-təm How to pronounce ultimatum (audio) -ˈmä- How to pronounce ultimatum (audio)
plural ultimatums or ultimata ˌəl-tə-ˈmā-tə How to pronounce ultimatum (audio)
-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
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.
The spat was compounded by US President Donald Trump’s suggestion to dismiss the multi-staged approach of the ceasefire deal altogether and giving Hamas an ultimatum to release all the hostages at once. Dana Karni, Ibrahim Dahman and Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025 Instead of rolling with the punches, C.K. basically gave Lete an ultimatum and implied that if Lete didn’t jump for her, their alliance would suffer. Laura Bradley, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2025 According to a source close to Henry, Payne gave her an ultimatum. Federico Fahsbender, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025 On Thursday afternoon, a federal judge in Boston temporarily halted President Trump’s federal employee buyout program, though the impact of the DOGE ultimatums blitz means thousands of desks are already empty. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ultimatum

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Medieval Latin, neuter of ultimatus final

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ultimatum was in 1731

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Cite this Entry

“Ultimatum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ultimatum. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

ultimatum

noun
ul·​ti·​ma·​tum ˌəl-tə-ˈmāt-əm How to pronounce ultimatum (audio) -ˈmät- How to pronounce ultimatum (audio)
plural ultimatums or ultimata -ə How to pronounce ultimatum (audio)
: a demand that if rejected will bring about an end of peaceful talks and could lead to forceful action

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