marginal

[mahr-juh-nl]

adjective

1. pertaining to a margin.

2. situated on the border or edge.

3. at the outer or lower limits; minimal for requirements; almost insufficient.

   marginal subsistence;

   marginal ability.

4. written or printed in the margin of a page.

   a marginal note.

5. of minor importance, significance, relevance, or effect: Grids using even larger voltages are now being constructed, but will probably make only a marginal improvement in costs.

   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.

6. Sociology.

   1. 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.

   2. 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.

7. 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.

8. Economics.

   1. selling goods at a price that just equals the additional cost of producing the last unit supplied.

   2. of or relating to goods produced and marketed at margin.

      marginal profits.

marginal

/ ˈmɑːdʒɪnəl, ˌmɑːdʒɪˈnælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of, in, on, or constituting a margin

2. close to a limit, esp a lower limit

   marginal legal ability

3. not considered central or important; insignificant, minor, small

4. economics relating to goods or services produced and sold at the margin of profitability

   marginal cost

5. politics of or designating a constituency in which elections tend to be won by small margins

   a marginal seat

6. designating agricultural land on the margin of cultivated zones

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

noun

1. politics a marginal constituency

Other Word Forms

• marginality noun
• marginally adverb
• intermarginal adjective
• supermarginal adjective
• transmarginal adjective
• unmarginal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of marginal¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Medieval Latin marginālis “of or pertaining to an edge”; margin, -al ¹

Example Sentences

Perhaps the masters of the dark arts, dirty tricks or marginal gains, depending on how you view such things, were Cambridge United in the early 1990s.

Read more on BBC

England have arguably been the better team in the first half of both Tests so far and will look to missed chances and some marginal refereeing calls as Sliding Doors moments.

Read more on BBC

So is the Apple Watch, which evolved from a somewhat marginal digital fashion statement into a widely used health and fitness device.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Because of these benefits, the higher a person’s marginal tax bracket is, the more they save up front.

Read more on MarketWatch

There’s an angry but marginal anti-immigrant minority, and while overt racism and bigotry certainly exist, they face widespread mainstream disapproval.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• insignificant 
• minimal 
• minor 
• negligible