maximal

adjective

max·​i·​mal ˈmak-s(ə-)məl How to pronounce maximal (audio)
1
: being an upper limit : highest
2
: most comprehensive : complete
maximally adverb

Examples of maximal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Someone with a bird's-eye view of the situation is Mary Daly, CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, part of the national system responsible for setting monetary policy, maintaining a stable financial system, and ensuring maximal employment. Will Knight, WIRED, 11 Apr. 2024 Without straying too far from the current logo, Arsham found a happy medium between maximal and minimal. Cassell Ferere, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 But if the point of buying out a private island was maximal privacy, then what Grand Velas and its ilk are offering couldn’t be more different. Linda Laban, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024 That depends, and age is a big factor as the maximal rate declines with age. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2024 Most likely, this structure allowed for a maximal amount of sunlight capture within the forest’s sub-canopy zone, a space between the tallest and shortest trees and plants. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2024 Questioning our assumptions Our review of these cultural zones highlights that cultural differences between East and West remain maximal. Iese Business School, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The role of fire watch and safety services becomes a critical factor in ensuring that these celebrations proceed with minimal risk and maximal peace of mind. Kyle Russell, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 Any visitor would swear this villa had stood for centuries, and had been restored for maximal modern charm. Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'maximal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of maximal was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near maximal

Cite this Entry

“Maximal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maximal. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

maximal

adjective
max·​i·​mal ˈmak-s(ə-)məl How to pronounce maximal (audio)
1
: being an upper limit : highest
maximal growth
2
: most comprehensive : complete
maximal recovery

Medical Definition

maximal

adjective
max·​i·​mal ˈmak-s(ə-)məl How to pronounce maximal (audio)
1
: most complete or effective
maximal dental protection
maximal vasodilation
2
: being an upper limit
the maximal levels achieved with subcutaneous injectionsW. S. Hoffman
maximally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on maximal

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