Ultimate

Ultimate is an English adjective meaning being the last in a progression or the greatest possible. It is used to describe final outcomes, fundamental principles, or the utmost degree. The word derives from Latin ultimus, meaning last or farthest, via Old French ultime.

In sport, Ultimate refers to Ultimate Frisbee, a non-contact team sport played with a flying disc. Teams of seven compete to score by catching the disc in the opposing end zone. Players advance the disc by passing to teammates; contact is discouraged or forbidden. Defenders apply a stall count, a time limit for releasing the disc, to prevent stall tactics. The game emphasizes sportsmanship and fair play under the Spirit of the Game. It is governed internationally by the World Flying Disc Federation and nationally by organizations such as USA Ultimate. The sport features international events like the World Ultimate Club Championship and the World Ultimate and Guts Championships; college and club play are common, with participation growing worldwide.

In philosophy and everyday usage, “ultimate” can denote the final or most fundamental aspect of something, such as the ultimate cause or ultimate reality, or the ultimate goal of a plan. The term is also used more loosely as an intensifier, though in precise writing it may be replaced by terms such as final, principal, or utmost.