WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
per•emp•to•ry /pəˈrɛmptəri/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- leaving no opportunity or chance for denial or refusal:a peremptory command.
- acting like a dictator in expecting orders to be obeyed:a peremptory boss.
per•emp•to•ry
(pə remp′tə rē, per′əmp tôr′ē, -tōr′ē),USA pronunciation adj.
per•emp′to•ri•ly, adv.
per•emp′to•ri•ness, n.
- leaving no opportunity for denial or refusal;
imperative:a peremptory command. - imperious or dictatorial.
- positive or assertive in speech, tone, manner, etc.
- Law
- Lawthat precludes or does not admit of debate, question, etc.:a peremptory edict.
- Lawdecisive or final.
- Lawin which a command is absolute and unconditional:a peremptory writ.
- Latin peremptōrius final, decisive, literally, deadly, destructive (derivative of perimere to take away fully, destroy, slay), equivalent. to per- per- + em-, base of emere to buy, origin, originally to take + -tōrius -tory1, with intrusive p
- 1505–15
per•emp′to•ri•ness, n.
- 2. arbitrary, dogmatic, domineering.
'peremptorily' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):