A "maximand" refers to a quantity that is maximized or sought to be maximized in optimization problems. While the term itself is specific, there are several synonyms that can be used interchangeably. For instance, "objective function" is a commonly used synonym, particularly in mathematical contexts. Additionally, "target variable" or simply "target" can be used to refer to the quantity being maximized. In some cases, the word "goal" can also be utilized, although it tends to have a broader connotation. Regardless of the term used, they all serve to indicate the quantity to be optimized or maximized in various mathematical, economic, or scientific applications.