maximal

American  

[mak-suh-muhl] / ˈmæk sə məl /

adjective

1. of or being a maximum; greatest possible; highest.

---

maximal British  

/ ˈmæksɪməl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or achieving a maximum; being the greatest or best possible

2. maths (of a member of an ordered set) being preceded, in order, by all other members of the set

---

Other Word Forms

• maximally adverb
• postmaximal adjective
• submaximal adjective

Etymology

Origin of maximal

First recorded in 1880–85; maxim(um) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

They align with long-standing American taste preferences, ones that are resurfacing in a moment of maximal nostalgia.

From Salon

With each album, Everything but the Girl took a different approach: from skeletal to maximal, bossa nova to rock, retro Wall of Sound to sleek Los Angeles pop.

From New York Times

If Cannes has retained its ability to overwhelm, that’s a significant win for this most maximal of film festivals, which returned to the Croisette this week after a two-year break.

From New York Times

The set — mounds of dirt evoking Mother Earth and versatile bars of fluorescent light — is a maximal feat of minimalist design.

From Washington Post

It helps, of course, that many of the men and women depicted in these 16th-century likenesses were physically beautiful, had exquisite taste in clothing, and enjoyed the means to dress with maximal fashion and luxury.

From Washington Post