maximal

American  

[mak-suh-muhl] / ˈmæk sə məl /

adjective

1. of or being a maximum; greatest possible; highest.

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maximal British  

/ ˈmæksɪməl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or achieving a maximum; being the greatest or best possible

2. maths (of a member of an ordered set) being preceded, in order, by all other members of the set

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Other Word Forms

• maximally adverb
• postmaximal adjective
• submaximal adjective

Etymology

Origin of maximal

First recorded in 1880–85; maxim(um) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

According to the study, "excessive heat, with maximal temperatures exceeding 40°C, can reduce colony populations by impairing the thermoregulation of brood or by exposing adults to temperatures that shorten their lifespans."

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026

The Swedish pop sensation has also been behind a make-up trend focused on maximal, glam "Y2K" looks, and that's something Lauren remembers fondly from 2016.

From BBC • Jan. 9, 2026

His own style, which is to say his mind, was compulsively metaphorical, gorgeously maximal, enough so to make him worry about “an implicit marvelling at myself as expressor.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

He does not engage in the sort of maximal resistance that other places did.

From Salon • Aug. 16, 2024

The problem, you realize, is that while you have been raised to speak quietly and little, the notions of where you come from and who you are need a maximal approach.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee