maven

noun

ma·​ven ˈmā-vən 

variants or less commonly mavin

: one who is experienced or knowledgeable : expert

a language maven

policy mavens

computer mavens

also : freak sense 2a

Synonyms

• expert
• guru
• scholar
• master
• consultant
• shark

Examples of maven in a Sentence

an investment maven, he was doing well even when the market was doing poorly

a science-fiction maven who could talk for hours about fictional technology

Recent Examples on the Web

The Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker will reportedly portray the husband of Streep’s diabolical fashion magazine maven Miranda Priestly. —Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025

Brisk, truncated treatments are normally the parlance of pop mavens whose freshness dates rapidly expire and who seek to hide deficiencies. —Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025

But numbers mavens are off the hook, too, because clearly, no actual math was used in the making of this mess. —Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2025

This Italian white bean concoction is adapted from a recipe by slow-cooker mavens Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann. —Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 28 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish meyvn, from Late Hebrew mēbhīn

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for maven

• craven
• flavin
• graven
• haven
• pavan
• raven
• shaven
• engraven
• unshaven
• riboflavin