An ultimatum is a warning to someone that unless they act in a particular way, action will be taken against them.
I was given an ultimatum to lose weight or lose my place on the team. [+ to]
...a 48-hour ultimatum.
ultimatum in British English
(ˌʌltɪˈmeɪtəm)
nounWord forms: plural-tums or -ta (-tə)
1.
a final communication by a party, esp a government, setting forth conditions on which it insists, as during negotiations on some topic
2.
any final or peremptory demand, offer, or proposal
Word origin
C18: from New Latin, neuter of ultimatusultimate
ultimatum in American English
(ˌʌltəˈmeɪtəm)
nounWord forms: pluralˌultiˈmatums or ˌultiˈmata (ˌʌltəˈmeɪtə)
a final offer or demand, esp. by one of the parties engaged in negotiations, the rejection of which usually leads to a break in relations and unilateral action, the use of force, etc. by the party issuing the ultimatum
Word origin
ModL < LL, neut. of ultimatus: see ultimate
Examples of 'ultimatum' in a sentence
ultimatum
Give him an ultimatum if you want to give him a last chance.
The Sun (2010)
And a different kind of storm looms with the neighbour who issues an ultimatum over selling his wing of the castle.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And he gives her an ultimatum.
The Sun (2014)
He had come with an ultimatum.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Give him an ultimatum - you or his girlfriend.
The Sun (2010)
When a relationship moves more slowly than you want, it is tempting to issue an ultimatum.
The Sun (2010)
Tell him that he isn't committing enough to your relationship and then issue an ultimatum.
The Sun (2012)
If you give him an ultimatum it might make him realise he doesn't want to lose you.
The Sun (2016)
If that were not embarrassing enough, senior technical officials issued an ultimatum that may still jeopardise the entire athletics programme.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Germany has delivered another ultimatum to Greece to write reforms into law if it wants vital funding to avoid running out of cash.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I want to give him an ultimatum - lose the drink and drugs or lose me.
The Sun (2014)
You could give him an ultimatum, but don't hold your breath.
The Sun (2013)
If she won't accept advice, give her an ultimatum.
The Sun (2015)
For this very reason, Germany would almost certainly stay in the euro if faced with an ultimatum.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
His family issued an ultimatum: he returned to rehab in 2006 and said he had remained sober since.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That ultimatum was delivered to him in much smoother terms, with more diplomacy, but the outcome was the same.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Give him an ultimatum.
The Sun (2006)
On the way there he pulls over to deliver an ultimatum - if she goes ahead with the surrogacy, their relationship is over.
The Sun (2012)
Do I put up and shut up, or give an ultimatum?
The Sun (2015)
The governors have been given a ten-day ultimatum to present an action plan to improve the school or lose its funding, in effect closing it.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He has been given an ultimatum by his fiancée to put on as much weight as possible before their wedding two weeks after next summer's Olympics.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
ultimatum
British English: ultimatum /ˌʌltɪˈmeɪtəm/ NOUN
An ultimatum is a warning that unless someone acts in a particular way within a particular time limit, action will be taken against them.
Workers have given the government an ultimatum.
American English: ultimatum
Arabic: إِنْذَارٌ نِهَائِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: ultimato
Chinese: 最后通牒
Croatian: ultimatum
Czech: ultimátum
Danish: ultimatum
Dutch: ultimatum
European Spanish: ultimátum
Finnish: uhkavaatimus
French: ultimatum
German: Ultimatum
Greek: τελεσίγραφο
Italian: ultimatum
Japanese: 最後通牒
Korean: 최종 제안
Norwegian: ultimatum
Polish: ultimatum
European Portuguese: ultimato
Romanian: ultimatum
Russian: ультиматум
Latin American Spanish: ultimátum
Swedish: ultimatum
Thai: คำขาด
Turkish: ültimatom
Ukrainian: ультиматум
Vietnamese: tối hậu thư
Chinese translation of 'ultimatum'
ultimatum
(ʌltɪˈmeɪtəm)
Word forms:plultimatumsultimata (ʌltɪˈmeɪtə)
n(c)
最后(後)通牒 (zuìhòu tōngdié)
to give sb an ultimatum给(給)某人下最后(後)通牒 (gěi mǒurén xià zuìhòu tōngdié)