maximum

American  

[mak-suh-muhm] / ˈmæk sə məm /

noun

plural

maximums, maxima

1. the greatest quantity or amount possible, assignable, allowable, etc.

2. the highest amount, value, or degree attained or recorded.

3. an upper limit allowed or allowable by law or regulation.

4. Mathematics.

   1. Also called relative maximum,.  Also called local maximum.  the value of a function at a certain point in its domain, which is greater than or equal to the values at all other points in the immediate vicinity of the point.

   2. the point in the domain at which a maximum occurs.

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adjective

1. that is a maximum; greatest or highest possible or attained.

   maximum satisfaction; maximum temperature.

2. pertaining to a maximum or maximums.

maximum British  

/ ˈmæksɪməm /

noun

1. the greatest possible amount, degree, etc

2. the highest value of a variable quantity

3. maths

   1. a value of a function that is greater than any neighbouring value

   2. a stationary point on a curve at which the tangent changes from a positive value on the left of this point to a negative value on the right Compare minimum

   3. the largest number in a set

4. astronomy

   1. the time at which the brightness of a variable star has its greatest value

   2. the magnitude of the star at that time

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adjective

1. of, being, or showing a maximum or maximums

maximum Scientific  

/ măk′sə-məm /

plural

maximums

1. The greatest known or greatest possible number, measure, quantity, or degree.

2. The greatest value of a mathematical function, if it has such a value.

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Other Word Forms

• maximumly adverb
• submaximum adjective

Etymology

Origin of maximum

First recorded in 1730–40; from Latin, noun use of neuter of maximus, superlative of magnus “great, large”

Explanation

Both a noun and an adjective, maximum takes it to the max: it means the most, the fastest, the biggest. "The most you can have is the maximum": that's the noun. In "the maximum amount is the most you can have," it's used as an adjective. You might be familiar with the shortened version of the word: the "max." If you take something "to the max," you're doing as much of it as possible. You take it to the limit. You take it to the maximum.

Example Sentences

I told him that the money he saved was what he and his wife worked for, and I saw no issue with him giving his children the maximum the Internal Revenue Service allows.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

Fishermen in the San Francisco region will be allowed to catch a maximum of 160 Chinook per vessel during several open periods in May and August, and 100 on additional dates in September.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

The mission's moment of maximum jeopardy had passed, and soon the spacecraft's red-and-white parachutes opened and sent the capsule sailing majestically through the sky.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Civil aviation authority chief Aziz said that "only on two or three occasions maximum" a commercial plane delayed a landing due to Israeli military action.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

One was far more likely to encounter its opposite, which is pessimax, the maximum degree of pessimism one can endure before sinking into full-on weltschmerz.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• ceiling
• peak