ultimatum

[uhl-tuh-mey-tuh m, -mah-] /ˌʌl təˈmeɪ təm, -ˈmɑ-/
noun, plural ultimatums, ultimata
[uhl-tuh-mey-tuh, -mah-] /ˌʌl təˈmeɪ tə, -ˈmɑ-/ (Show IPA)
1.
a final, uncompromising demand or set of terms issued by a party to a dispute, the rejection of which may lead to a severance of relations or to the use of force.
2.
a final proposal or statement of conditions.
Origin
1725-35; < Neo-Latin, noun use of neuter of Late Latin ultimātus. See ultimate
Can be confused
ultimate, ultimatum.
Examples from the web for ultimatum
  • They know because of the ultimatum game, the outcome of which is often the rejection of free money.
  • The favoured tools for exploring seemingly odd behaviours are called public-goods experiments and ultimatum games.
  • He was given an ultimatum and he made his choice for war.
  • Ideally this ultimatum alone would suffice to prompt the government to release its prisoners.
  • The rejection of the ultimatum followed and war was declared.
British Dictionary definitions for ultimatum

ultimatum

/ˌʌltɪˈmeɪtəm/
noun (pl) -tums, -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
Word Origin and History for ultimatum
n.

1731, from Modern Latin, from Medieval Latin adjective ultimatum "last possible, final," from Latin ultimatum, neuter of ultimatus (see ultimate). Hamilton and others use the Latin plural ultimata. In slang c.1820s, ultimatum was used for "the buttocks."

ultimatum in Culture
ultimatum [(ul-tuh-may-tuhm)]

A formal message delivered from one government to another threatening war if the receiving government fails to comply with conditions set forth in the message. For example, after the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand in 1914, the government of Austria sent an ultimatum to Serbia, which Austria held responsible for the assassination.