marginalize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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.
-
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.
verb
Other Word Forms
- marginalization noun
Etymology
Origin of marginalize
First recorded in 1825–35 for an earlier sense; marginal + -ize
Explanation
When you push people to the edge of society by not allowing them a place within it, you marginalize them. If a public school celebrates only Christmas in December, it can marginalize students who aren't Christian. A society that labels certain people as outside the norm — weird, scary, hateful, or useless — marginalizes those people, edging them out. Native or aboriginal groups often end up in this position, and so do people who are poor, disabled, elderly, or who in other ways are seen as not quite fitting in. The Latin root is margo, "edge, brink, or border." Since the late 1920's marginalize has referred not to a literal edge, but to a powerless position just outside society.
Vocabulary lists containing marginalize
This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for October 31–November 6, 2020
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The Boy on the Wooden Box
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President Obama's Speech at the United Nations
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When the market’s directional trend is hijacked by forces that marginalize financial metrics like corporate earnings growth and profit margins, it’s more significant than merely investor sentiment souring.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
Efforts to marginalize their participation do not reduce inequality of influence.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026
In fact, the former employee says, DOE higher-ups seemed to marginalize both the Office of Science and Berhe.
From Science Magazine • Mar. 15, 2024
Their efforts to marginalize the Holocaust Center for Humanity are proof that Holocaust education is a good idea.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2024
By doing so, it would help marginalize extremists and terrorists, promote U.S. values and interests, and improve America's global image.
From The Iraq Study Group Report by Iraq Study Group (U.S.)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
