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Definition of maximal

maximal

/ˈmæk.sɪ.məl/
max · i · mal
Adverb:maximally
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maximal Lexical Profile

maximal Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Of or constituting the greatest possible amount, degree, or intensity; highest or largest.

Example

"The athletes trained rigorously to achieve maximal oxygen uptake before the championship."

2

In mathematics, referring to an element of a partially ordered set that is not less than any other element in the set.

Example

"By Zorn's lemma, every non-empty partially ordered set in which every chain has an upper bound contains at least one maximal element."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for maximal

• Nearby Words

maxilla
maxillaria
maxim
maximal
maximalist
maximally
maximization

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 19th century from Latin 'maximus' (the superlative of 'magnus', meaning 'great') combined with the adjectival suffix '-al', modeled on 'minimal'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Maximal. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/maximal
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