terminus ad quem

noun

The latest possible date of a nonpunctual event (period, era, etc.)

Similar
terminal pointlimit

Meanings

nounterminus ad quem (plural termini ad quos)

plural termini ad quos

  1. The latest possible date of a nonpunctual event (period, era, etc.)
  2. An objective or goal.
    1 more example

    What I do regret is the non-intelligent and almost superstitious way in which baptism is still regarded by many of our people. They think of it too much as a mere terminus ad quem which should call forth their energies up till the time it is obtained, and then leaves them waiting to see what sort of substantial worldly good may afterwards come along.

    1915, William Campbell, Sketches from Formosa, Marshall Brothers Limited, page 31

Synonyms & antonyms

nounfinal or latest limiting point

Similar
terminal pointlimit
Broader

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinterminus“limit”
  2. Englishterminus ad quem

From Latin terminus (“limit”) + ad (“up to”) + quem (“which”), the accusative of quī (“what”). Literally meaning “the limit up until which”.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

terminus ad quem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/terminus%20ad%20quem

MLA

“terminus ad quem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/terminus%20ad%20quem. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “terminus ad quem,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/terminus%20ad%20quem.

Source: terminus ad quem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.