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
1
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."
2
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 notesIn 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
Common pairings
an old maxim
a maxim goes
live by a maxim
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like maxim.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- maxims
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
"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").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include maxim:
