noun Uncommon

maxim

MAK-sihm

Maxim (noun) means a short, memorable statement that expresses a general truth or rule for behaviour. Example: “Honesty is the best policy" is a maxim most of us grew up hearing.”

noun

A short, memorable statement that expresses a general truth or rule for behaviour.

""Honesty is the best policy" is a maxim most of us grew up hearing."

"His grandfather had a maxim for every situation in life."

An early type of machine gun, named after its inventor, that fires automatically as long as the trigger is held.

"The Maxim gun gave a huge advantage to the armies that adopted it in the late 1800s."

How to use maxim

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA short saying that sums up a rule of good sense or good conduct.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "maximum" (the highest amount) — a maxim is a saying, not a limit.

Easily confused with

maximum →

Common pairings

an old maxim a maxim goes live by a maxim

Word forms

maxims plural, Maxims plural, Maxims plural

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"Honesty is the best policy" is a _____ most of us grew up hearing.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman and Middle French maxime, going back to Late Latin maxima ("greatest premise"), from Latin maximus ("greatest").

Origin: Late Latin

Synonyms

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cliche enthymeme proverb saying

Related words

saying expression phrase stating commonplace proverb cliché enthymeme

Frequently asked questions

What does “maxim” mean?

The word “maxim” means a short, memorable statement that expresses a general truth or rule for behaviour. In plain terms, a short saying that sums up a rule of good sense or good conduct.

How do you pronounce “maxim”?

“Maxim” is pronounced MAK-sihm (/ˈmæk.sɪm/ in IPA).

How do you use “maxim” in a sentence?

Here is “maxim” used in a sentence: “"Honesty is the best policy" is a maxim most of us grew up hearing.”

What is another word for “maxim”?

Words with a similar meaning to “maxim” include cliche, enthymeme, proverb and saying.

What part of speech is “maxim”?

“Maxim” is a noun.

Where does the word “maxim” come from?

The word “maxim” comes from Late Latin. From Anglo-Norman and Middle French maxime, going back to Late Latin maxima ("greatest premise"), from Latin maximus ("greatest").

Is “maxim” a common word?

“Maxim” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “maxim” have?

“Maxim” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short, memorable statement that expresses a general truth or rule for behaviour.

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saying expression phrase stating commonplace proverb cliché enthymeme