marginalize

[ mahr-juh-nl-ahyz ]
See synonyms for: marginalizemarginalization on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),mar·gin·al·ized, mar·gin·al·iz·ing.
  1. to place in a position of minor or marginal importance, significance, relevance, or effect: The government is attempting to marginalize criticism and restore public confidence.

  2. to isolate or exclude from the dominant culture; perceive or treat as being on the fringes of a society or group: All of these policies have marginalized our vulnerable sisters and brothers for their religion, skin color, or sexual orientation.

Origin of marginalize

1
First recorded in 1825–35 for an earlier sense; marginal + -ize
  • Also especially British, mar·gin·al·ise .

Other words from marginalize

  • mar·gin·al·i·za·tion [mahr-juh-nl-ahy-zey-shuhn] /ˌmɑr dʒə nl aɪˈzeɪ ʃən/ especially British, mar·gin·al·i·sa·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for marginalize

marginalize

marginalise

/ (ˈmɑːdʒɪnəˌlaɪz) /


verb
  1. (tr) to relegate to the fringes, out of the mainstream; make seem unimportant: various economic assumptions marginalize women

Derived forms of marginalize

  • marginalization or marginalisation, noun

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