ultra
ultra Lexical Profile
ultra Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Going beyond what is usual or ordinary; excessive or extreme, especially in opinions, beliefs, or style.
"The fashion designer is famous for her ultra minimalism and bold geometric silhouettes."
• noun
A person who holds extreme or uncompromising views, especially in politics or religion.
"Negotiations stalled when the party's ultras refused to support the bipartisan compromise."
A member of an organized, fiercely devoted, and sometimes militant group of sports supporters, especially in European association football.
"The stadium's north stand was packed with ultras waving giant banners and chanting throughout the match."
An ultramarathon; a long-distance footrace extending beyond the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers).
"She spent six months training on steep mountain trails before attempting her first 50-mile ultra."
Word Nuance & Usage
While most commonly encountered in English as the combining prefix 'ultra-' (as in 'ultraviolet' or 'ultramodern'), 'ultra' also functions as an independent noun and adjective, particularly in political, sporting, and athletic contexts.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin 'ultra', a preposition and adverb meaning 'beyond' or 'on the other side of'. Its standalone political sense entered English in the early 19th century via French 'ultra-royaliste', referring to extreme royalists following the Bourbon Restoration.