marginal

[ mahr-juh-nl ]

/ ˈmɑr dʒə nl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR marginal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

pertaining to a margin.

situated on the border or edge.

at the outer or lower limits; minimal for requirements; almost insufficient: marginal subsistence; marginal ability.

written or printed in the margin of a page: a marginal note.

Sociology. marked by contact with disparate cultures, and acquiring some but not all the traits or values common to any one of them.

Economics.

selling goods at a price that just equals the additional cost of producing the last unit supplied.
of or relating to goods produced and marketed at margin: marginal profits.

Nearby words

Origin of marginal

First recorded in 1570–80, marginal is from the Medieval Latin word marginālis of, pertaining to an edge. See margin, -al¹

Related forms

mar·gin·al·i·ty, nounmar·gin·al·ly, adverbin·ter·mar·gi·nal, adjectivesu·per·mar·gin·al, adjective

su·per·mar·gin·al·ly, adverbtrans·mar·gi·nal, adjectivetrans·mar·gi·nal·ly, adverbun·mar·gin·al, adjectiveun·mar·gin·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for marginal

Coping with drought and marginal soils was a continual struggle.
‘The Harness Maker’s Dream:’ The Unlikely Ranch King of Texas|Nick Kotz|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even those who did fight against the Russians played only a marginal role in determining the outcome of the war.
Syria’s Terror Blowback Threatens Europe and the United States|Bruce Riedel|May 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The marginal rate of taxation applies much more heavily on the secondary wage.
Transcript: Thomas Friedman Interviews Hillary Clinton and Christine Lagarde||April 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
ISIS grew from a marginal player controlling only one out of 56 neighborhoods in September 2013, to dominate 12 by December.
Aleppo Conflict Map Shows Assad’s Control By Neighborhood|David Kilcullen, Nate Rosenblatt|March 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But no one should mistake a marginal nudge with a substantial achievement.
Can Obama Do Anything to Fight Inequality Without Congress?|Jill Lawrence|January 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A tariff forcing home production opens the marginal resources and gives them a large capital value.
The Principles of Economics|Frank A. Fetter
Line 18 has a marginal note on 'scower'—'But when he does so, he verifies the Proverb, viz.
Minor Poets of the Caroline Period, Vol III|John Cleveland
The marginal rim is absent in females of T. ater, and only faintly evident in males.
North American Recent Soft-shelled Turtles (Family Trionychidae)|Robert G. Webb
Even in this case, however, the word is rendered as Cockatrice in the marginal translation.
Bible Animals;|J. G. Wood
It is measured by the marginal utility of any particular grade of agents in securing products.
The Principles of Economics|Frank A. Fetter

British Dictionary definitions for marginal

marginal

/ (ˈmɑːdʒɪnəl) /

adjective

of, in, on, or constituting a margin

close to a limit, esp a lower limitmarginal legal ability

not considered central or important; insignificant, minor, small

economics relating to goods or services produced and sold at the margin of profitabilitymarginal cost

politics, mainly British and NZ of or designating a constituency in which elections tend to be won by small marginsa marginal seat

designating agricultural land on the margin of cultivated zones

economics relating to a small change in something, such as total cost, revenue, or consumer satisfaction

noun

politics, mainly British and NZ a marginal constituency

Derived Formsmarginality (ˌmɑːdʒɪˈnælɪtɪ), nounmarginally, adverb

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

Word Origin and History for marginal

marginal

adj.

1570s, "written on the margin," from Medieval Latin marginalis, from Latin margo (see margin). Sense of "of little effect or importance" first recorded 1887. Related: Marginally.

Medicine definitions for marginal

marginal

[ mär′jə-nəl ]

adj.

Of, relating to, located at, or constituting a margin, a border, or an edge.

Marginally within a lower standard or limit of quality.

Relating to or located at the fringe of consciousness.

Related formsmar′gin•al′i•ty (-jə-năl′ĭ-tē) n.

marginal

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of marginal

Examples from the Web for marginal

marginal

adjective

noun

marginal

marginal

adj.