maximal

[ mak-suh-muhl ]

adjective

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

maximal

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈmaximally, adverb

Other Words From

• maxi·mal·ly adverb
• post·maxi·mal adjective
• sub·maxi·mal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of maximal¹

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

Example Sentences

Some neuroscientists think it is in this state where we achieve maximal brain performance.

From Singularity Hub 

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

The range could be anywhere from threshold pace to maximal aerobic power.

From Outside Online

If your code worked correctly, it revealed that there were exactly four anti-isosceles sets, each with the maximal six points.

From FiveThirtyEight

So, most of the decline in endurance performance is determined by your maximal aerobic capacity.

From Washington Post

If you wanted create a scandal to have maximal appeal to GOP base freakout, this is it.

From The Daily Beast

The difference between health and sickness could not therefore be demonstrated to be maximal.

From Project Gutenberg

Among unicellular green alg, Chlamydomonas, has its maximal efficiency in the yellowish-green and Euglena in the blue.

From Project Gutenberg

Width of carapace: Maximal, straight-line measurement between the lateral margins of the carapace.

From Project Gutenberg

Width of head: Maximal measurement between the lateral margins of the head.

From Project Gutenberg

Diameter of ocellus: Maximal outside diameter of largest (not conspicuously ovoid or oblong) ocellus on carapace.

From Project Gutenberg