- the greatest possible amount, degree, etc
- the highest value of a variable quantity
- of, being, or showing a maximum or maximums
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
max•i•mum /ˈmæksəməm/USA pronunciation
n., pl. -mums, -ma /-mə/USA pronunciation
adj.
n. [countable]
adj. [before a noun]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n. [countable]
- the highest amount, value, or degree that can be reached:At a maximum, we have twenty students in each class.
- an upper limit allowed by regulation:raising the maximums of permitted imports.
adj. [before a noun]
- being the greatest, largest, or highest that can be reached:a maximum prison sentence of 50 years.
max•i•mum
(mak′sə məm),USA pronunciation n., pl. -mums, -ma (-mə),USA pronunciation
adj.
n.
adj.
max′i•mum•ly, adv.
n.
- the greatest quantity or amount possible, assignable, allowable, etc.
- the highest amount, value, or degree attained or recorded.
- an upper limit allowed or allowable by law or regulation.
- [Math.]
- Also called relative maximum, 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. Cf. absolute maximum.
- the point in the domain at which a maximum occurs.
adj.
- that is a maximum;
greatest or highest possible or attained:maximum satisfaction; maximum temperature. - pertaining to a maximum or maximums.
- Latin, noun, nominal use of neuter of maximus, superlative of magnus great, large
- 1730–40
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
maximum /ˈmæksɪməm/ n ( pl -mums, -ma /-mə/)
(Advertisement)
'maximum' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
all-out
- amplitude
- angle of repose
- apgar score
- attack
- blast
- camber
- capacity
- chronograph
- do
- down
- economy
- extend
- Eyre
- factor of safety
- feng shui
- flat
- full employment
- go for
- governor
- heat death
- intensive
- kamikaze
- Kivu
- letter of credit
- life imprisonment
- light
- linear programming
- match
- mature
- max.
- maxi
- maxim
- maxima
- maximal
- maximize
- minimalism
- minimax
- MIP
- most
- node
- optimize
- orchestrate
- pass band
- peak
- peak load
- plafond
- pool
- price control
- absolute
