maximum
noun
max·i·mum
ˈmak-s(ə-)məm 
plural maxima
ˈmak-sə-mə
or maximums
ˈmak-s(ə-)məmz
or maximums
ˈmak-s(ə-)məmz
1
a
: the greatest quantity or value attainable or attained
b
: the period of highest, greatest, or utmost development
2
: an upper limit allowed (as by a legal authority) or allowable (as by the circumstances of a particular case)
3
: the largest of a set of numbers
specifically
: the largest value assumed by a real-valued continuous function defined on a closed interval
maximum
adjective
Examples of maximum in a Sentence
achieved the maximum
Recent Examples on the Web
The incentive structure is based on multiples of five cases from the Criminal Trial Support Unit’s unassigned defendants’ list, where bar advocates can take on five, 10, or 15 such cases for a possible maximum of $7,500 in incentive bonuses — 15 cases at $500 each.
—
Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
For their part, each tournament team could take on a maximum of one NBA player.
—Zach Przystup, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
The Artemis 2 crew — NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen — will travel a maximum of 252,757 miles (406,773 kilometers) from their home planet, NASA announced today (April 3).
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum seven-year prison sentence, while the robbery charges are punishable by a maximum of 25 years.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maximum
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Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
For their part, each tournament team could take on a maximum of one NBA player.
—Zach Przystup, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
The Artemis 2 crew — NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen — will travel a maximum of 252,757 miles (406,773 kilometers) from their home planet, NASA announced today (April 3).
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum seven-year prison sentence, while the robbery charges are punishable by a maximum of 25 years.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maximum
Cite this Entry
“Maximum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maximum. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
maximum
noun
max·i·mum
ˈmak-s(ə-)məm
plural maxima
-sə-mə
or maximums
or maximums
1
: the highest quantity, value, or development
2
: an upper limit allowed
maximum
adjective
Medical Definition
maximum
noun
max·i·mum
ˈmak-s(ə-)məm
plural maxima
-sə-mə
or maximums
or maximums
1
a
: the greatest quantity or value attainable or attained
b
: the period of highest, greatest, or utmost development
2
: an upper limit allowed (as by a legal authority) or allowable (as by the circumstances of a particular case)
maximum
adjective
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