maxim

noun

max·​im ˈmak-səm 

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

• adage
• aphorism
• apothegm
• byword
• epigram
• proverb
• saw
• saying
• sententia
• word

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

There’s the old maxim that country music more than any other genre is about storytelling. —Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024

That and the state’s maxim—The Greatest Snow On Earth—broadcasted on every souvenir item possible isn’t overselling how preposterously light and fluffy the powder is here, or how much of it falls annually (up to 500 inches). —Scott Bay, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Nov. 2024

The big-picture, keep-it-simple characteristics of this market moment are easy enough to recite like self-help maxims: Inflation continues to retreat more quickly than the economy has slowed. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2024

Here is another useful maxim: Sometimes less is more. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English maxime, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin maxima, from Latin, feminine of maximus, superlative of magnus large — more at much

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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 2

biographical name (2)

Hudson 1853–1927 brother of Hiram Maxim American inventor