Ultra Vires
legal term / adjective /ˌʌl.trə ˈvaɪ.riːz/ — Beyond one's legal power or authority
Definition
Beyond the scope of legal power or authority — acting outside the limits of one's authority as defined by law, constitution, or corporate charter. An ultra vires act is void or challengeable because it exceeds the power granted.
Beyond the definition
Ultra vires is the legal vocabulary for overreach — the act that goes too far, beyond what was permitted. It names the boundary between legitimate authority and its violation, which is one of law's most important jobs.
Origin & history
Latin: 'beyond the powers'. From ultra (beyond) + vires (powers, plural of vis). A doctrine limiting the acts of public bodies and corporations to those within their legally constituted powers.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The regulation was struck down as ultra vires — Parliament had not granted the authority to make it.
The board's decision was ultra vires — the articles of incorporation didn't permit it.
Ultra vires protects citizens from the unchecked expansion of state or corporate power.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Ultra Vires” when the meaning fits your context: Beyond the scope of legal power or authority — acting outside the limits of one's authority as defined by law, constitution, or corporate charter. An ultra vires act is void or challengeable because it exceeds the power granted.
Synonyms
beyond authority, outside legal power, exceeding mandate
Antonyms
intra vires, within authority, within scope
Related words
Ultra Vires vs intra vires
Ultra vires refers to actions taken beyond one's legal authority. Intra vires refers to actions taken within the scope of one's legal power or mandate.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Guardian Blocking Prohibited Entry
A guardian figure stands at the center of an entrance to a massive stone maze.
The guardian represents authority enforcing boundaries that cannot be crossed. Acting ultra vires implies operating outside of defined legal limits; the stone maze symbolizes these rigid, pre-defined boundaries that one is not empowered to breach or circumvent without facing institutional challenge.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Ultra Vires" mean?
Ultra Vires is legal term / adjective meaning: Beyond one's legal power or authority. Beyond the scope of legal power or authority — acting outside the limits of one's authority as defined by law, constitution, or corporate charter. An ultra vires act is void or challengeable because it exceeds the power granted.
Where does the word "Ultra Vires" come from?
Latin: 'beyond the powers'. From ultra (beyond) + vires (powers, plural of vis). A doctrine limiting the acts of public bodies and corporations to those within their legally constituted powers.