maximal

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "maximal" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is as great or as much as possible. For example, "The company invested maximal effort into the project to ensure its success."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In short, while Advaitins and theistic Vedantins agree that the proper object of ultimate concern is maximally great, they disagree on just how maximal greatness should be construed.

SEP

So public colleges and universities need to craft admissions policies that use race minimally for maximal gains.

The Economist

In its wake, the industry was no longer mainly about "hot" new technologies that made maximal use of Moore's law, which holds that roughly twice as much processing power is available at a given price every 18 months.

The Economist

In short, the sexual strategising of males and females in some species reflects exactly those conditions that are good for Plasmodium survival.The findings are valuable clues in the battle against malaria; hijacking the hormone response, for example, could have maximal effect on only those species that pose the most danger.

The Economist

Mr Siniora has valiantly tried to stay calm under pressure and has offered compromises just short of his opponents' maximal demands.

The Economist

The ethnic groups are happy to wait and use the self-imposed pressure on the government's negotiating team to extract maximal concessions from them.

The Economist

This, indeed, is one of the pitfalls that has beset coalition government elsewhere: a maximal approach to policy, and thus a tendency to higher spending and pork.

The Economist

But the ethnic armies want maximal devolved power, whereas the central government wants the opposite after all, holding on tight to the country for fear that things might fall apart was the rationale for the Burmese army's long dictatorship.

The Economist

The trouble is that this will just invite him to repeat his past success, by using minimal concessions to cause maximal division and confusion.

The Economist

The resilience of the two main communities obliges each to recognise the impracticality of its maximal demands.

The Economist

This process involves minimal time in the furnace and maximal time out in the sun.At the moment, aluminium alloys are usually hardened by heat-treating them at around 160°C, a process that takes between 8 and 24 hours.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision in technical or academic writing, use "maximal" to specifically denote the greatest quantity or degree possible.

Common error

Avoid using "maximal" and "maximum" interchangeably. While related, "maximal" often describes a condition or quality, while "maximum" typically refers to a specific value or quantity. For example, use "maximal effort" rather than "maximum effort" to describe the greatest possible exertion of effort.

Linguistic Context

The word "maximal" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate the greatest possible degree or extent. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Examples in Ludwig show it describing "maximal greatness", "maximal gains", and "maximal concessions".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maximal" is a versatile adjective denoting the greatest possible degree or extent, frequently used in formal, scientific, and technical contexts. As Ludwig AI explains, it's grammatically correct and effective for emphasizing the upper limit of a quality. While "maximum" refers to a specific value, "maximal" is used to describe the condition or quality of being the greatest possible. When aiming for precision, especially in technical writing, leverage "maximal" to convey the highest degree or extent. While it is a valid word, consider using alternatives like "greatest possible" or "utmost" in more casual settings for a natural sound. The analysis of Ludwig's examples suggests that "maximal" is a valuable tool for precise communication, particularly in professional and academic spheres.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greatest possible

Replaces "maximal" with a phrase emphasizing the upper limit of possibility.

utmost

Substitutes "maximal" with a simpler adjective denoting the highest degree or amount.

highest

Uses a basic adjective to indicate the top of a scale or range, similar to "maximal".

peak

Emphasizes the concept of reaching the highest point or level, rather than the quantity itself.

optimal

Focuses on achieving the best or most favorable outcome, rather than the largest quantity.

ultimate

Suggests a final or conclusive degree, implying the highest or greatest extent.

topmost

Emphasizes the position at the very top, suggesting a hierarchical structure.

supreme

Suggests the highest authority or power, which can imply the greatest extent or degree.

most extreme

Replaces "maximal" with a phrase conveying the highest degree of intensity or severity.

upper limit

Replaces "maximal" with a phrase suggesting the highest boundary or threshold.

FAQs

How is "maximal" used in technical contexts?

"Maximal" is often used in technical fields like mathematics and physics to describe an element or state that is the largest possible without being trivial. For instance, a "maximal" ideal in a ring is an ideal that is as large as possible without being the entire ring.

What's the difference between "maximal" and "maximum"?

While both relate to the greatest extent, "maximal" often describes a condition or quality that is the greatest possible, while "maximum" refers to a specific numerical value or limit. Think of "maximal" as the adjective and "maximum" as the noun.

Can I use "maximal" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "maximal" is more common in formal and technical contexts. In everyday conversation, alternatives like "greatest possible" or "utmost" may sound more natural.

What are some synonyms for "maximal"?

Depending on the context, synonyms for "maximal" include "highest", "optimal", "ultimate", and "most extreme". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.