margin

[ mahr-jin ]

/ ˈmɑr dʒɪn /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: margin / margined / margining / margins on Thesaurus.com

noun

the space around the printed or written matter on a page.

an amount allowed or available beyond what is actually necessary: to allow a margin for error.

a limit in condition, capacity, etc., beyond or below which something ceases to exist, be desirable, or be possible: the margin of endurance; the margin of sanity.

a border or edge.

Philately. selvage (def. 3).

Finance.

security, as a percentage in money, deposited with a broker by a client as a provision against loss on transactions.
the amount representing the customer's investment or equity in such an account.

the difference between the amount of a loan and the market value of the collateral pledged as security for it.

Commerce. the difference between the cost and the selling price.

an amount or degree of difference: The measure passed by a margin of just three votes.

Economics. the point at which the return from economic activity barely covers the cost of production, and below which production is unprofitable.

Entomology. the border of an insect's wing.

verb (used with object)

to provide with a margin or border.

to furnish with marginal notes, as a document.

to enter in the margin, as of a book.

Finance. to deposit a margin upon.

Stock Exchange. to purchase (securities) on margin: That stock was heavily margined during the last month.

OTHER WORDS FOR margin

3 confine, bound.

4 rim, verge, brink.

See synonyms for margin on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR margin

4 center.

See antonyms for margin on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of margin

1300–50; Middle English <Latin margin- (stem of margō) border; akin to march²

synonym study for margin

4. See edge.

Words nearby margin

Margelan, margent, Margery, Margherita, Margie, margin, margin account, marginal, marginal cost, marginal costing, marginalia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use margin in a sentence

The poll finds Biden leads 57 percent to 41 percent among Minnesota likely voters, a 16-point margin that contrasts with Biden’s six-point edge in a Post-ABC poll conducted in Wisconsin over the same period.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Baber, not the auditor, wrote the recommendations, and those that passed did so on thin margins, while others didn’t get enough support to go to the full board.
Politics Report: Forged Footnote 15|Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts|September 12, 2020|Voice of San Diego
In some cases, this uptick was within the polls’ margins of error, but the overall upward trend was still pretty clear.
Trump And Biden Both Got Small Convention Bounces. But Only Biden Got More Popular.|Nathaniel Rakich (nathaniel.rakich@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 11, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The number of wins divided by the total number of draws represents a simulated probability of a GOP win given the poll’s margin.
The Forecast: The Methodology Behind Our 2020 Election Model|Daniel Malloy|September 10, 2020|Ozy

The Packers are favorites by a razor-thin margin after coming within a game of the Super Bowl last year, though they did little to improve around Aaron Rodgers while the 36-year-old still has good seasons left in the tank.
What To Watch For In An Abnormally Normal 2020 NFL Season|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 9, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The citizens of Stevens Point defeated fluoridation by a healthy margin.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Because of the thinness of the air, there is a very tight margin between the correct and incorrect airspeeds, as little as 50 mph.
Did Bad Weather Bring Down AirAsia 8501?|Clive Irving|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sixty-seven Republicans voted against it, a margin in line with estimates of many conservatives from earlier in the day.
‘Cromnibus’ Passes, But Did Anyone Win?|Ben Jacobs|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Being in an indie band is running a never-ending, rewarding, scary, low-margin small business.
How Much Money Does a Band Really Make on Tour?|Jack Conte|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We believe in Him by a landslide 74 percent to 26 percent margin.
Up to a Point: Thanks to the Biggest Turkey, Uncle Sam|P. J. O’Rourke|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This paper was noted here and there on the margin, and had been obviously carefully read.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
The comparison of the cost of production, therefore, with the value of the raw material, shows a very large margin of profit.
Asbestos|Robert H. Jones
Along the sea-margin of the tongue of land between the rivers Mersey and Dee, the sand has been thrown up in domes.
Notes and Queries, Number 177, March 19, 1853|Various
He likens the walls to the page of a book, in which the glose, or commentary, was often written in the margin.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
On the other side was a narrow margin, and then a sheer wall of hills in exquisite verdure.
Mrs. Falchion, Complete|Gilbert Parker

British Dictionary definitions for margin

margin

archaic margent (ˈmɑːdʒənt)

/ (ˈmɑːdʒɪn) /

noun

an edge or rim, and the area immediately adjacent to it; border

the blank space surrounding the text on a page

a vertical line on a page, esp one on the left-hand side, delineating this space

an additional amount or one beyond the minimum necessarya margin of error

mainly Australian a payment made in addition to a basic wage, esp for special skill or responsibility

a bound or limit

the amount by which one thing differs from anothera large margin separated the parties

commerce the profit on a transaction

economics the minimum return below which an enterprise becomes unprofitable

finance

collateral deposited by a client with a broker as security
the excess of the value of a loan's collateral over the value of the loan

verb (tr)

to provide with a margin; border

finance to deposit a margin upon

Word Origin for margin

C14: from Latin margō border; related to march ², mark 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

margin

OTHER WORDS FOR margin

OPPOSITES FOR margin

Origin of margin

synonym study for margin

Words nearby margin

Words related to margin

How to use margin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for margin

archaic margent (ˈmɑːdʒənt)

Word Origin for margin