maximal
Americanadjective
adjective
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of, relating to, or achieving a maximum; being the greatest or best possible
-
maths (of a member of an ordered set) being preceded, in order, by all other members of the set
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of maximal
Explanation
Maximal means the greatest, best, or largest amount of something. The maximal speed of your friend's junky car might be forty miles per hour. The adjective maximal is the opposite of the more common minimal. Your idea of sleeping in maximal comfort might include a soft comforter and lots of pillows, and you might try, when you're running on a treadmill, to get your heartbeat to its maximal rate for several minutes. Maximal has a Latin root, maximus, or "greatest," which in turn comes from magnus, "great or large."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Warm-up routines such as hip rotations, thoracic/lumbar mobility drills and progressive swings will activate those muscle groups and improve joint mobility before maximal loading.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
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
They align with long-standing American taste preferences, ones that are resurfacing in a moment of maximal nostalgia.
From Salon • Nov. 30, 2025
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
