# main vs maxim

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### main
*adjective · IPA /meɪn/ · frequency rank #574*
Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal.

### maxim
*noun · IPA /ˈmæk.sɪm/ · frequency rank #17,411*
A self-evident axiom or premise; a pithy expression of a general principle or rule.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/main-vs-maxim