ulterior

[ uhl-teer-ee-er ]

adjective

1. being beyond what is seen or made known; intentionally kept concealed:

   Is there perhaps some ulterior agenda behind their bizarre line of reasoning?

   Synonyms: undivulged, undisclosed, covert, hidden

2. coming at a subsequent time or stage; future; further:

   Having sent the letter, the committee considered the matter dealt with and did not recommend any ulterior action.

3. lying beyond or outside of some specified or understood boundary; more remote:

   Building this questionable website was a misuse of the school’s educational technology for purposes ulterior to learning.

ulterior

/ ʌlˈtɪərɪə /

adjective

1. lying beneath or beyond what is revealed, evident, or supposed

   ulterior motives

2. succeeding, subsequent, or later
3. lying beyond a certain line or point

Derived Forms

• ulˈteriorly, adverb

Other Words From

• ul·te·ri·or·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ulterior¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin: “farther,” comparative of ulter “beyond”; akin to ultrā “on the far side”; ultra-

Word History and Origins

Origin of ulterior¹

C17: from Latin: further, from ulter beyond

Example Sentences

Regardless, he doesn’t think Birthright’s ulterior motives are achieved.

From Slate

"It felt like somebody had access to your personal thoughts, your relationships. And they had an ulterior motive. They're not there to be an observer — they're there to take something and use it and potentially hurt people I love and care about," Botha described.

From Salon

Police told the BBC this case was an example of criminals with an ulterior motive taking over a well-run business that was already established in the importing and exporting of produce and less likely to arouse suspicions.

From BBC

Some residents worry about the extra spectators who will be able to visit the site every day; others believe the All England Club's ulterior motive is to build a hotel complex on the site.

From BBC

But she has an ulterior motive in shrewdly finagling her way into a job at an esteemed Chicago law firm, which is revealed by the end of the hour and sets the season in motion.

From Los Angeles Times