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| Date: | 1600-1700 |
| Language: | Late Latin |
| Origin: | ultimatus 'last', from ultimare 'to come to an end, be last', from Latin ultimus 'farthest, last', from ulter; ULTERIOR |
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ul‧ti‧mate1 W3
[only before noun]
[only before noun]1 someone's ultimate aim is their main and most important aim, that they hope to achieve in the future [= final]
ultimate goal/aim/objective etc Complete disarmament was the ultimate goal of the conference. Our ultimate objective is to have as many female members of parliament as there are male.
Complete disarmament was the ultimate goal of the conference.Our ultimate objective is to have as many female members of parliament as there are male.2 the ultimate result of a long process is what happens at the end of it : the ultimate failure of the project
the ultimate failure of the project3 if you have ultimate responsibility for something, you are the person who must make the important final decisions about it : The ultimate responsibility for policy lies with the President.
The ultimate responsibility for policy lies with the President.4 better, bigger, worse etc than all other things or people of the same kind : 'The Rolling Stones' is the ultimate rock and roll band. The female nude is surely the ultimate test of artistic skill.
'The Rolling Stones' is the ultimate rock and roll band.The female nude is surely the ultimate test of artistic skill.