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1
: a general truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct
Mother's favorite maxim was "Don't count your chickens before they hatch."
2
: a proverbial saying
advised her daughter with the maxim "marry in haste, repent at leisure"
Synonyms
Examples of maxim in a Sentence
it's a common maxim that “a watched pot never boils,” but that's not literally true
Recent Examples on the Web
Reflecting Koprowski’s maxim that ‘having elasticity in a golf course keeps it fresh and fun,’ these variable features foster a dynamic experience.
—
Mike Dojc, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Their maxims and marketing taglines circled a single objective: disrupting the traditional landlord-tenant relationship.
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Mya Frazier, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
The maxim has been used by astrologers to describe the influence of planets on our lives; by culture writers to excuse flakiness during the holidays; and by Madonna to credit guardian angels for her survival after a dangerous fall.
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Sam Corbin, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Larry doesn’t have time for that, and unleashes what is essentially the maxim for the entire series — and maybe David’s entire career.
—
Esther Zuckerman, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'maxim.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near maxim
Cite this Entry
“Maxim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maxim. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
maxim
noun
max·im
ˌmak-səm
1
: a general truth or rule of conduct
2
: a proverbial saying
Biographical Definition
Maxim 1 of 2
biographical name (1)
Max·im
ˈmak-səm
Sir Hiram Stevens 1840–1916 British (American-born) inventor
Maxim
2 of 2biographical name (2)
Hudson 1853–1927 brother of Hiram Maxim American inventor
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