I. ul ‧ ti ‧ mate 1 W3 AC /ˈʌltəmət, ˈʌltɪmət/ BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ ultimate ; adverb : ↑ ultimately ; adjective : ↑ ultimate ]
[ 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 ]
1 . someone’s ultimate aim is their main and most important aim, that they hope to achieve in the future SYN 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.
2 . the ultimate result of a long process is what happens at the end of it:
The ultimate outcome of the experiment cannot be predicted.
The ultimate fate of the tribe was even sadder.
the ultimate failure of the project
3 . 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 decision rests with the Public Health Service.
4 . better, bigger, worse etc than all other things or people of the same kind:
The Rolling Stones are the ultimate rock and roll band.
The female nude is surely the ultimate test of artistic skill.
II. ultimate 2 BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ ultimate ; adverb : ↑ ultimately ; adjective : ↑ ultimate ]
the ultimate in something the best or most modern example of something:
The plane was the ultimate in air technology in the '60s.
Guy’s home is the ultimate in luxury.