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marginal

[mahr-juh-nl]
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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.
  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.

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

Contemporary Examples of marginality

British Dictionary definitions for marginality

marginal

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 marginality
n.

1849, from marginal + -ity.

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
marginality in Medicine

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.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.