ultimatum

pronunciation

How to pronounce ultimatum in British English: UK [ˌʌltɪˈmeɪtəm]word uk audio image

How to pronounce ultimatum in American English: US [ˌʌltəˈmeitəm, -ˈmɑ-] word us audio image

  • Noun:
    a final peremptory demand

Word Origin

ultimatum (n.)
"final demand," 1731, from Modern Latin, from Medieval Latin ultimatum "a final statement," noun use of Latin adjective ultimatum "last possible, final," neuter of ultimatus (see ultimate). The Latin plural ultimata was used by the Romans as a noun, "what is farthest or most remote; the last, the end." In slang c. 1820s, ultimatum was used for "the buttocks."

Example

1. China 's unvarnished ultimatum needs an equally plain response .
2. Some voices inside israel 's government also favour that policy formulation rather than mr netanyahu 's ultimatum to mahmoud abbas , the fatah leader who presides over the palestinian authority that runs the west bank , that he must choose between hamas and israel .
3. One side cannot put an ultimatum to another .
4. Feigning surprise , the british and french issued an ultimatum to both sides to cease fire .
5. There was no public indication lavrov had conveyed an ultimatum in his closed-door talks with the syrian leader .

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