maven
noun

- an expert or connoisseur

- a person with good knowledge or understanding of a subject

Cambridge Dictionary, Oxford Languages

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WORD ORIGIN

“Maven” entered the English language in the mid-20th century, derived from the Yiddish word meyvn, which comes from the Hebrew word מֵבִין (mevín), meaning “one who understands” or “expert”.

While the word has Yiddish origins, it gained popularity in American English starting in the 1960s. Its earliest recorded use in English dates back to the 1950s, with the first known citation from 1965.

“Maven” has become well-integrated into English, joining other Yiddish-origin words like shtick, chutzpah, and schmo in mainstream usage. Its adoption reflects the influence of Jewish-American culture on the broader American lexicon.

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THE EXPERTS



The term “maven” has evolved in its usage in modern advertising and media, often being applied to influential individuals or entities with expertise in specific areas. Here are some contemporary examples of how “maven” is used:

- Digital and Social Media Mavens = In the digital age, “maven” is frequently used to describe influencers and experts in various online niches:

- Social Media Mavens = Individuals with large followings and expertise in social media platforms are often referred to as social media mavens. These influencers create content, share insights, and shape trends across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

- Beauty and Fashion Mavens = The beauty and fashion industries frequently use the term to describe influential figures. For instance, makeup artists, stylists, and fashion bloggers are often called “makeup mavens” or “style mavens”.

- Tech Mavens = In the technology sector, individuals with extensive knowledge and influence are sometimes referred to as tech mavens.

- Food Mavens = Culinary experts, food critics, and popular chefs may be labeled as food mavens.

- Finance Mavens = Financial experts and advisors are occasionally called finance mavens, especially in media coverage of economic trends.

Brand and Marketing Usage

- Brand Names = Some companies have adopted “maven” as part of their brand identity. For example, Marketing Maven, a PR firm, uses the term to position themselves as experts in their field.

- Product Lines = Cosmetics or fashion lines use “maven” in product names to suggest expertise and quality. The fashion retailer Fashion Nova has launched a makeup line called “Maven Beauty”.

- Campaign Slogans = Advertising campaigns sometimes use phrases like “Ask the Maven” or “Maven-Approved” to lend credibility to their products or services.

In media and entertainment, “maven” is used to describe influential critics and commentators:

- Awards Mavens = Entertainment journalists who specialize in award shows and predictions are sometimes called awards mavens.

- Cultural Mavens = Critics and commentators with broad cultural knowledge might be referred to as cultural mavens.

The use of “maven” in these contexts reflects its evolution from a niche Yiddish term to a widely recognized descriptor for experts and influencers across numerous fields.

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SYNONYMS

ace, adept, aficionado, alpha geek, arbiter, artist, authority, big cheese (gun, shot, wheel), boffin, brain, brainbox, brainiac, bright spark, buff, champion, clever clogs, cognoscente, connoisseur, consultant, crack, crackerjack, dab hand, doyen, egghead, einstein, expert, fan, genius, go-to person, guru, heavy hitter, hotshot, influencer, know-it-all, learned person, luminary, maestro, master, mastermind, MAVEN, mentor, ninja, old hand, oracle, past master, pro, prodigy, professional, pundit, rocket scientist, sage, savant, scholar, scientist, sobersides, specialist, star, superstar, top dog, virtuoso, walking encyclopedia, whiz, whizz, wise owl, wiz, wizard

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“If you’re looking to invest wisely, check the credentials of potential financial MAVENS,… they have very different standards and practices.”

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