Maxim
/ˈmæksɪm/
nounB2
Definition
A maxim is a brief sentence or phrase that gives advice or tells an important truth about how people should act or live. It is often a wise or traditional saying that helps guide decisions or behavior.
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See It in Action
A short statement expressing a general truth or rule
- •"Practice makes perfect" is a well-known maxim.
- •The teacher shared a maxim about kindness with the class.
- •Many maxims teach us how to live a good life.
A guiding principle or moral rule
- •He lives by the maxim "Treat others as you want to be treated."
- •The company's maxim is to always put customers first.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "maxim" like "rule," but shorter and often with a wise or moral meaning
- ✓Picture a small sign with a short sentence like "Honesty is the best policy" hanging on a wall
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you remember a simple, clear lesson from your parents or teachers
- ✓Sounds like "MAX-im" → imagine a maximum (biggest) idea made small and easy to remember
- ✓In stories, characters often say maxims to teach others important life lessons
- ✓NOT like "law" (official and legal), a maxim is more like advice or a general truth, not a strict command
- ✓NOT like "story" (long and detailed), a maxim is short and to the point
- ✓NOT like "joke" (funny and light), a maxim is serious and meaningful
Try Other Words
- •Saying: a short, common phrase that expresses an idea (Use when the phrase is informal or popular)
- •Proverb: a traditional, well-known maxim with a moral lesson (Use when the saying is old and widely known)
- •Principle: a basic truth or idea that guides actions (Use when focusing on important rules or beliefs)
- •Adage: a wise, old saying (Use when the maxim is very old and respected)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix, "maxim" is a standalone root word)
- •Etymology: from Latin "maxima (dicta)" meaning "greatest (things said)"
- •Historical development: first used in English in the 15th century to mean a short statement of a general truth
- •Modern usage: used to describe wise sayings or guiding principles in speech, writing, and philosophy
Reflect & Connect
•How do maxims help people make decisions in daily life?
•Can a maxim change over time, or are they always the same? How does culture affect maxims?
Fill in the blanks
1.A maxim usually gives ___ advice or a general ___ about life or behavior.
2.People remember maxims because they are ___ and easy to ___.
3.Unlike a strict law, a maxim is more like ___ or advice that guides you.
4.The maxim "Honesty is the best policy" teaches the ___ of telling the truth.
5.Some maxims become popular because they express ___ truths that many people agree with.
6.When someone lives by a maxim, they try to ___ their actions with that idea.
7.Maxims often appear in stories or speeches to ___ important lessons.