German word

maximal

Pronunciation

IPA/maksiˈmaːl/

Meaning

  • adverbat most

Example

Das kostet maximal zehn Euro.

That costs at most ten euros.

Illustration for maximal (at most)

More examples

Du hast maximal zwei Stunden Zeit.

You have at most two hours.

Core concept

A scale with a highest permitted mark and nothing beyond it.

Common phrases

  • maximal zwei Stunden

    at most two hours

  • maximal zehn Euro

    at most ten euros

Similar words

höchstens: Shows that a quantity or period will not exceed the stated limit.
allenfalls: Gently suggests that the amount or extent will be no more than the stated level.
allerhöchstens: Strongly emphasizes that the amount or extent cannot exceed the stated limit.
im Höchstfall: States that even in the worst case, the amount or extent stays at that level.

Definition in German

eine festgelegte Obergrenze nicht überschreitend; höchstens

Word origin

German maximal is a learned borrowing from Latin maximalis, built on maximus, meaning 'greatest', and it functions as both an adjective and an adverb.

Usage tips

  • As an adjective, maximal takes normal German endings: maximale Kosten and ein maximaler Preis, while the adverb remains maximal.

Other meanings

  • maximumadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • Maximummaximumnoun
  • maximierenmaximizeverb

Word lists with this word