ulterior purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

"ulterior purpose" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is generally used to describe a hidden or secret purpose someone may have for doing something. For example: "Bob brought donuts to the office - it was clear he had an ulterior purpose in mind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

The fun and games have an ulterior purpose.

The New York Times

And if the company's ulterior purpose were to generate commercial good will, I'd happily patronize it.

The New York Times

Everything that Mary says to the Bertrams is with an ulterior purpose.

The Guardian - Books

The fact that this censorship may have a laudable ulterior purpose cannot mean that censorship is not censorship".

The New York Times

Between takes, he would amble by the actors' trailers and drop in for a chat, a chat that had no ulterior purpose.

The Guardian - Film

But the regrets expressed this week by Turkey's famously stubborn president over last November's shooting down of a Russian military plane have an ulterior purpose.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

RUSSIANS INVADE CHINA.; Are Becoming Citizens for Ulterior Purposes, Says Priest.

The New York Times

Archives|RUSSIANS INVADE CHINA.; Are Becoming Citizens for Ulterior Purposes, Says Priest.

The New York Times

She wrote, "The purpose of a trial is to render justice, and nothing else; even the noblest ulterior purposes".

The New Yorker

The Henan Provincial Propaganda Department ordered the local press to stop covering his candidacy, because "foreign forces are participating with ulterior purposes and attempting to overthrow our government".

The New Yorker

"Some government officials had their own reasons to push for the applicants' prosecution," the ruling said, but "a mere suspicion that the authorities had used their powers for ulterior purposes was not sufficient to prove a violation".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with verbs like "serve", "have", "possess" or "reveal" to describe the presence or uncovering of secret intentions.

Common error

Do not use "ulterior purpose" when you simply mean a second or additional goal that is transparent. The word ulterior specifically implies that the purpose is intentionally hidden or kept in the background, often for self-serving reasons.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ulterior purpose" functions as a noun phrase composed of the attributive adjective "ulterior" and the head noun "purpose". According to Ludwig AI, it is commonly used as the direct object of a verb or within a prepositional phrase to qualify the true intent of a subject's actions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

3%

Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ulterior purpose" is a sophisticated and widely accepted phrase used to describe hidden intentions. Analysis from Ludwig AI shows that it is exceptionally common in high-tier journalism and academic research, where it serves to highlight the discrepancy between stated and actual goals. Whether used in a legal context to describe the misuse of proceedings or in literary analysis to uncover a character's true drive, the phrase carries a weight of skepticism. It is most effective when the hidden nature of the goal is the primary point of interest. Writers should be careful to distinguish it from a simple "secondary purpose", as "ulterior purpose" almost always implies a degree of secrecy or strategic concealment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ulterior motive

Focuses more on the psychological drive behind an action rather than the objective itself

hidden agenda

Suggests a broader set of secret intentions or a systematic plan

covert purpose

Uses a more formal, almost military or intelligence-related synonym for hidden

underlying objective

More neutral and less accusatory, suggesting a foundation rather than a secret

secret goal

Simpler language that removes the Latinate sophistication of ulterior

disguised intent

Emphasizes the active effort to mask the true reason for an action

secondary aim

Suggests an additional goal without necessarily implying deception

private end

Refers to a personal or self-serving outcome that is not shared with the public

unstated mission

Suggests a directive or goal that remains unspoken or unofficial

backdoor strategy

Informal and idiomatic, focusing on the method of achieving a hidden goal

FAQs

What is the meaning of "ulterior purpose"?

It refers to a hidden, secret or intentionally obscured reason for doing something. While the primary reason for an action is stated, the "ulterior purpose" remains in the background. You might use "hidden agenda" as a synonym.

How do I use "ulterior purpose" in a sentence?

A typical example would be: "The company claimed the move was for efficiency, but critics suspected they had an "ulterior purpose" to weaken the union."

What's the difference between "ulterior purpose" and "ulterior motive"?

While often interchangeable, a "ulterior motive" usually refers to the internal psychological reason for acting, whereas "ulterior purpose" focuses on the specific end result or objective the person is trying to achieve.

Is "ulterior purpose" formal or informal?

It is generally considered a neutral to formal expression. It is frequently found in quality journalism, such as The New York Times, and academic papers. For a more informal setting, you might use "secret reason".