What does maim mean?
To maim is to cause severe, lasting harm, especially by injuring a person or animal so that a limb or other body part is permanently disabled. The word can also describe serious damage to an object, institution, or tradition, often suggesting that something has been fundamentally impaired rather than merely harmed. “Maim” is more severe than ordinary words such as “injure” and is often associated with accidents, violence, cruelty, and lasting disability. Its figurative uses retain the idea of profound damage: a policy may be said to maim a local economy, or a decision to maim the character of a historic building. Because of its strong implications, maim is used particularly in formal writing, journalism, and literary contexts rather than in casual descriptions of minor injuries.
verbTo injure a person or animal so badly that a limb or part of the body is permanently disabled or seriously impaired. It can also mean to damage or ruin something.
- To injure someone or an animal so severely that a body part is permanently impaired or lost.
- To damage or ruin something so badly that its usefulness or value is greatly reduced.
"The driver was critically injured when the explosion maimed him."
"Years of untreated infection maimed the horse, leaving it unable to work."
"The new regulations were criticized for maiming the tradition rather than preserving it."
To be maimed is to be left permanently harmed, a meaning that makes the word far more serious than a simple bruise.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does maim come from?
The English verb comes from Old English maimian, meaning to injure or disable. It is related to an old Germanic root associated with injury and loss, and its earliest forms were influenced by Old Norse vocabulary. The modern word retains the sense of harm that is severe enough to leave a lasting impairment.
Related word forms
How maim is actually used
This is a strong and somewhat literary word. It is commonly used in descriptions of serious accidents, violence, and animal cruelty; figurative uses emphasize severe damage or loss of vitality.
Easily confused with maim
“Maim” usually suggests a severe and lasting injury, while “lame” more often describes difficulty walking or a figurative lack of effectiveness.