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ultimatum

noun
ul路​ti路​ma路​tum | \ 藢蓹l-t蓹-藞m膩-t蓹m How to pronounce ultimatum (audio) , -藞m盲- How to pronounce ultimatum (audio) \
plural ultimatums or ultimata\ 藢蓹l-​t蓹-​藞m膩-​t蓹 How to pronounce ultimata (audio) , -​藞m盲-​ \

Definition of ultimatum

: a final proposition, condition, or demand especially : one whose rejection will end negotiations and cause a resort to force or other direct action
Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about ultimatum

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Did You Know?

An ultimatum is usually issued by a stronger power to a weaker one, since it wouldn't carry much weight if the one giving the ultimatum couldn't back up its threat. Near the end of World War II, the Allied powers issued an ultimatum to Japan: surrender completely or face the consequences. Japan rejected the ultimatum, and within days the U.S. had dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing some 200,000 people.

Examples of ultimatum in a Sentence

She was given an ultimatum鈥攚ork 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

 Somewhere amid her husband鈥檚 countless roundtrips from Sonoma to Atlanta for NBA TV appearances, Meredith Hale-Griffin issued an ultimatum. — Jake Fischer, SI.com, "How David Griffin Rebuilt the Pelicans and His World," 1 Aug. 2019 And from there, and into Saturday, there was an expectation that Gruden would at some point fire off some sort of ultimatum at his mercurial star. — Albert Breer, SI.com, "Antonio Brown鈥檚 Helmet Drama Is Exactly What Jon Gruden and the Raiders Bargained For," 12 Aug. 2019 What finally prompted San Francisco State to do so in May was an ultimatum from Congress, placed in the Defense Department鈥檚 2019 funding bill, to shut down its Confucius Institute or lose federal funding for foreign language training programs. — Teresa Watanabestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, "San Francisco State shuts down Chinese language program under federal pressure," 29 July 2019 Disgusted Disgusted: These parents had delivered an ultimatum; their daughter had chosen to move out. — Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, "Ask Amy: Woman is torn between career and motherhood," 8 July 2019 Austria delivered a harsh ultimatum to the Serbs that demanded vast interference in Serbian domestic affairs. — Isabel V. Hull, The New York Review of Books, "Hang the Kaiser?," 21 Mar. 2019 Tonight, Chuck Grassley, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an ultimatum to Ford's lawyers. — Fox News, "New developments in Tucker's Google investigation; Dean Cain on Hollywood rallying behind Kavanaugh's accuser," 22 Sep. 2018 Disgusted Dear Disgusted: These parents had delivered an ultimatum; their daughter had chosen to move out. — Ask Amy, oregonlive.com, "Ask Amy: Career-driven woman feels pressure to have kids but isn鈥檛 sure she wants to," 8 July 2019 In a statement released with the report, GLAAD鈥檚 president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis delivered an ultimatum to Hollywood executives, demanding that 20 percent of films by 2021 feature LGBTQ characters, increasing to 50 percent by 2024. — Stephen Daw, Billboard, "GLAAD Report Shows Major Film Studios Are Getting Worse About LGBTQ Inclusion," 22 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ultimatum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of ultimatum

1731, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for ultimatum

New Latin, from Medieval Latin, neuter of ultimatus final

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More Definitions for ultimatum

ultimatum

noun
How to pronounce ultimatum (audio) How to pronounce ultimatum (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of ultimatum

: a final threat : a promise that force or punishment will be used if someone does not do what is wanted

See the full definition for ultimatum in the English Language Learners Dictionary

ultimatum

noun
ul路​ti路​ma路​tum | \ 藢蓹l-t蓹-藞m膩-t蓹m How to pronounce ultimatum (audio) \
plural ultimatums or ultimata\ -​藞m膩-​t蓹 \

Kids Definition of ultimatum

: a final condition or demand that if rejected could end future negotiations and lead to forceful or undesirable action

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More from Merriam-Webster on ultimatum

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with ultimatum

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ultimatum

Spanish Central: Translation of ultimatum

Nglish: Translation of ultimatum for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of ultimatum for Arabic Speakers

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