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1
: a general truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct
Mother's favorite maxim was "Don't count your chickens before they hatch."
2
: a proverbial saying
advised her daughter with the maxim "marry in haste, repent at leisure"
Synonyms
Examples of maxim in a Sentence
it's a common maxim that “a watched pot never boils,” but that's not literally true
Recent Examples on the Web
Reflecting Koprowski’s maxim that ‘having elasticity in a golf course keeps it fresh and fun,’ these variable features foster a dynamic experience.
—Mike Dojc, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Their maxims and marketing taglines circled a single objective: disrupting the traditional landlord-tenant relationship.
—Mya Frazier, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
The maxim has been used by astrologers to describe the influence of planets on our lives; by culture writers to excuse flakiness during the holidays; and by Madonna to credit guardian angels for her survival after a dangerous fall.
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Larry doesn’t have time for that, and unleashes what is essentially the maxim for the entire series — and maybe David’s entire career.
—Esther Zuckerman, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for maxim
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'maxim.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near maxim
Cite this Entry
“Maxim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maxim. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
maxim
noun
max·im
ˌmak-səm
1
: a general truth or rule of conduct
2
: a proverbial saying
Biographical Definition
Maxim 1 of 2
biographical name (1)
Max·im
ˈmak-səm
Sir Hiram Stevens 1840–1916 British (American-born) inventor
Maxim
2 of 2biographical name (2)
Hudson 1853–1927 brother of Hiram Maxim American inventor
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