maximum

/ˈmæksɪməm/

//ˈmæksɪməm// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"maximum" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“maximum” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #2,491. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#2,491
frequency rank, English
4,057
“M” headwords
10
tracked misspellings
5
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The highest limit.

Corpus desk

Index EN-maximum · maximum · English

maximum · rank #2,491 · 10 variants · 5 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #2,491
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-MID 5 pairs
  • VAR-MID 10 variants
  • BOOK-MID 4,057
  • PHOTO-FINISH mainly

Nearest frequency peer: mainly (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “maximum”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “maximum” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

maximum vs minimum
71% similar
maximum vs Maximus
71% similar
maximum vs maxim
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for maximum
PropertyValue
Headwordmaximum
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmæksɪməm/
Letters7
Frequency rank#2,491
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs5
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “maximum”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).maximumlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Same rarity band neighbours include “mainly” (#2,490), “newspaper” (#2,492), “info” (#2,489). Among 4,057 “M” headwords, “maximum” is #2,491. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 10 spelling variants around maximum (IPA /ˈmæksɪməm/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #2,491 among 4,057 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 8 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for maximum, with forms such as "amximum", "maixmum", and "maximmu". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 5 confusable-pair relationships, "minimum", "Maximus", "maxim", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Via French from Latin maximum. The correct English form is maximum, spelled M-A-X-I-M-U-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    The highest limit.
  2. 2
    The greatest value of a set or other mathematical structure, especially the global maximum or a local maximum of a function.
  3. 3
    An upper bound of a set which is also an element of that set.
  4. 4
    The largest value of a batch or sample or the upper bound of a probability distribution.
  5. 5
    A 147 break; the highest possible break.
  6. 6
    A score of 180 with three darts.
  7. 7
    A scoring shot for 6 runs.
  8. 8
    maximum security

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how maximum appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. This is the fundamental principle of good legislation. It is the art of conducting a nation to the maximum of happiness and the minimum of misery
  2. I just got out of maximum where I did 4 months for an arguent I had in the serving area.

Etymology

Via French from Latin maximum.

Synonyms

max

Antonyms

minimum

This word in other languages

máximo(Español)maximum(Français)Maximum(Deutsch)máximo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • amximum
  • maixmum
  • maximmu
  • maximmum
  • maximumm
  • maxiumm
  • maxmium
  • maxximum
  • mmaximum
  • mxaimum

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of maximum - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

amximum2maixmum2maximmu2maximmum1maximumm1maxiumm2maxmium2maxximum1
Edit distance from "maximum"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "maximum"?
"maximum" is spelled M-A-X-I-M-U-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmæksɪməm/.
What does "maximum" mean?
As a noun, "maximum" means: The highest limit.
What words are commonly confused with "maximum"?
"maximum" is commonly confused with "minimum", "Maximus", "maxim". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "maximum"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "maximum" is /ˈmæksɪməm/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "maximum"?
Via French from Latin maximum. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "maximum", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

reserve#2,496returns#2,497extreme#2,483dealing#2,478

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (10 here; floor ≥5).

offering10 variantsswitch10 variantsstands10 variantscareful10 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list