French word

ultime

Pronunciation

IPA/yltim/

Meaning

  • adjectivelast

Example

C'était l'ultime réunion avant le départ.

It was the last meeting before departure.

Illustration for ultime (last)

More examples

Son objectif ultime est de réussir.

His ultimate goal is to succeed.

Core concept

A process reaches its furthest endpoint, with no further stage left.

Common phrases

  • objectif ultime

    ultimate goal

  • l'ultime recours

    last resort

  • son ultime message

    final message

Similar words

dernier: Coming last in time or order in the usual everyday sense.
définitif: Settled once and for all, with no possibility of change or reversal.

Definition in French

Qui marque la toute dernière étape d'une série ou d'un processus et signifie l'achèvement définitif.

Word origin

French ultime comes from Latin ultimus, a superlative form related to ultra meaning farthest or last.

Usage tips

  • Ultime usually sounds stronger and more definitive than dernier and is especially common in formal or written contexts.

Other meanings

  • ultimateadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word