máxima

Máxima is the feminine form of the Spanish adjective máximo and, in many contexts, used as a noun to denote the highest degree, limit, or greatest value. In everyday Spanish, phrases such as temperatura máxima (highest temperature) or velocidad máxima (top speed) illustrate its use as a quantitative descriptor. As a noun, máxima can also signify a guiding principle or rule of conduct, akin to a maxim or axiom. In literature and philosophy, one speaks of máximas as proverbial sayings or general principles.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from Latin maximus meaning greatest. In Spanish it appears in masculine and feminine forms and is used to express upper limits, peak conditions, or the most important guideline in a given context. It can function both as an adjective and as a noun, with meanings ranging from numerical maximums to moral or practical maxims.

Notable person: The best-known contemporary person named Máxima is Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti, known as Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. Born in 1971 in Buenos Aires, she became the wife of King Willem-Alexander in 2002 and has been queen consort since his accession in 2013. She has served as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development since 2009, promoting access to financial services worldwide.

Other uses: The term is widely used in mathematics, science, and statistics to denote maximum values (valor máximo), and in everyday language to describe a guiding rule (una máxima). It appears across education, media, and policy discussions to refer to upper limits or peak conditions.