Maximal

How to spell maximal

7 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce maximal

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does maximal mean?

1. adjectiveOf or being the greatest or highest possible amount, size, or degree.

Maximal in a sentence

• The engine delivers maximal power only at high revolutions.

• The team trained hard to reach maximal performance before the final.

Where does maximal come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word traces back to the Latin maximus, meaning 'greatest', which is the superlative form of magnus, meaning 'great' or 'large'. The same magnus root gave English a whole family of size words, including 'magnify', 'magnitude' and 'magnificent', and it sits behind the familiar noun 'maximum'. The adjective 'maximal' was assembled in English by taking that Latin stem and adding the ordinary adjective ending -al, and it gained currency mainly in the nineteenth century in scientific, mathematical and technical writing where a precise word for 'the greatest possible' was useful. Because the word is built so transparently from maxim- plus -al, the only real spelling care needed is remembering the single 'l' at the end rather than the doubled '-mall' some writers expect.

How the word is built

• maxim- (from Latin maximus: greatest)
• -al (adjective suffix)