marginal

[ mahr-juh-nl ]

/ ˈmɑr dʒə nl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: marginal / marginally 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.

of minor importance, significance, relevance, or effect: Ethics is not a marginal issue, as it is the basis for the movement and progress of society.Grids using even larger voltages are now being constructed, but will probably make only a marginal improvement in costs.

Sociology.

marked by contact with disparate cultures, and acquiring some but not all the traits or values common to any one of them: The “marginal man” is one who is poised in psychological uncertainty between two or more worlds.
isolated from and not fully accepted by the dominant society or culture, and as a consequence, frequently disadvantaged: An overarching desire exists to foster social inclusion of all marginal groups, including people with a mental illness.

existing outside of the mainstream; unconventional: We hope the site is a place to enliven our own sometimes-isolated work in these marginal art forms.

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.

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 marginal

First recorded in 1570–80; from Medieval Latin marginālis “of or pertaining to an edge”; see margin, -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM marginal

mar·gin·al·i·ty

[mahr-juh-nal-i-tee], /ˌmɑr dʒəˈnæl ɪ ti/, nounmar·gin·al·ly, adverbin·ter·mar·gi·nal, adjectivesu·per·mar·gin·al, adjective

trans·mar·gi·nal, adjectiveun·mar·gin·al, adjective

Words nearby marginal

Margery, Margherita, Margie, margin, margin account, marginal, marginal cost, marginal costing, marginalia, marginalization, marginalize

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

How to use marginal in a sentence

Some of the folks arguing against the change said that this disastrous year of pandemic-style school is the wrong time to prioritize more days off, after F’s skyrocketed and learning has been marginal.
Not every student is Christian. So why don’t all school districts recognize that?|Petula Dvorak|March 4, 2021|Washington Post
Even if life had originated only on Earth, it need not remain a marginal, trivial feature of the cosmos.
If Aliens Exist, Here’s How We’ll Find Them - Issue 97: Wonder|Martin Rees & Mario Livio|February 24, 2021|Nautilus
Beckmann encourages injured athletes to keep in mind that marginal differences in body weight are typical across a season for most people, and similar to a postseason break, your body will normalize once you’ve returned to full training.
How to Eat When You’re Injured|Becky Wade|February 17, 2021|Outside Online
In hindsight, we should’ve communicated this in our snowfall map, something we’ll try to do next time when temperatures are marginal for accumulation.
After Sunday’s slush fest, another winter storm threatens by Wednesday night|Jason Samenow, Wes Junker|February 8, 2021|Washington Post

These objects that general relativity predicted, that were mathematical curiosities, became real, then they were marginal.
Einstein’s theory of general relativity unveiled a dynamic and bizarre cosmos|Elizabeth Quill|February 3, 2021|Science News
Both are considered marginal figures in the House GOP caucus and have no real base of support for their respective bids.
The YOLO Caucus' New Cry for Attention|Ben Jacobs|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Dynamism is increasingly driven not by economies of scale but by competitively driven marginal improvements.
Relax—Both Parties Are Going Extinct|Nick Gillespie|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The play of Sunday, the play of being angels in the choir, is not just a peripheral secondary marginal realm of activity.
Joseph Campbell on the Roots of Halloween|Joseph Campbell|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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
And those who are—like Pat Buchanan—are more marginal figures than ever.
The Conservative Case for Unions After the Harris v. Quinn Decision|James Poulos|July 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This section is not expressly confined to wandering persons, but the marginal note confines it to the "occasional poor."
English Poor Law Policy|Sidney Webb
Postmarginal vein a little longer than the slender, curved stigmal, about a third the length of the marginal.
Journal of Entomology and Zoology, March 1917|Various
The marginal reading, "Strike thee with six plagues" or "draw thee back with a hook of six teeth" is incorrect.
The Prophet Ezekiel|Arno C. Gaebelein
He made frequent marginal notes along the pages of the world's moral history—notes not always quotable in the family circle.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine
The only change made here is the placing of Aubreys marginal notes among the footnotes: the spelling is Aubreys spelling.
Ballads of Mystery and Miracle and Fyttes of Mirth|Frank Sidgwick

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 forms of marginal

marginality (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

marginal

Origin of marginal

OTHER WORDS FROM marginal

Words nearby marginal

Words related to marginal

How to use marginal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for marginal

Derived forms of marginal