maven

noun

ma·​ven ˈmā-vən 

variants or less commonly mavin

: one who is experienced or knowledgeable : expert

a language maven

policy mavens

computer mavens

also : freak sense 2a

Synonyms

• ace
• adept
• artist
• authority
• cognoscente
• connoisseur
• crackerjack
• crackajack
• dab [chiefly British]
• dab hand [chiefly British]
• expert
• fiend
• geek
• guru
• hand
• hotshot
• maestro
• master
• meister
• past master
• proficient
• scholar
• shark
• sharp
• virtuoso
• whiz
• wizard

Examples of maven in a Sentence

an investment maven, he was doing well even when the market was doing poorly

a science-fiction maven who could talk for hours about fictional technology

Recent Examples on the Web

The Frankie Shop — the insider label beloved by editors, influencers, and style mavens from New York to Paris — has brought its coveted minimalist aesthetic to Abu Dhabi’s shores in a buzzy two-week pop-up that’s generating serious fashion FOMO across the region. —Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2025

Horror maven producers Jason Blum and James Wan are also returning to the project. —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Fashion mavens Campbell and Wintour rounded out the celeb audience with regal glamour. —Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025

The modern university is stuffed with lawyers, data scientists, computer scientists, cryptographers, marketing researchers, writers, media professionals, and tech policy mavens. —Ars Staff, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish meyvn, from Late Hebrew mēbhīn

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for maven

• craven
• flavin
• graven
• haven
• pavan
• raven
• shaven
• engraven
• unshaven
• riboflavin