marginalize

American  

[mahr-juh-nl-ahyz] / ˈmɑr dʒə nlˌaɪz /

especially British, marginalise

verb (used with object)

marginalized, marginalizing

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.

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marginalize British  

/ ˈmɑːdʒɪnəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to relegate to the fringes, out of the mainstream; make seem unimportant

   various economic assumptions marginalize women

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Other Word Forms

• marginalization noun

Etymology

Origin of marginalize

First recorded in 1825–35 for an earlier sense; marginal + -ize

Example Sentences

Efforts to marginalize their participation do not reduce inequality of influence.

From MarketWatch

He ran for president in 1984 and founded the Rainbow Coalition, an advocacy organization that promoted the collaboration of marginalized groups.

From Salon

King's daughter Bernice said Jackson had "devoted his life to lifting people in poverty, the marginalized, and those pushed to society's edges".

From BBC

“There is a long history of marginalized communities receiving less support during times of crisis,” Shimica Gaskins, a fire survivor and member of the group, said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

“When young voices, and voices from marginalized communities tend to be silenced, sometimes we internalize that and silence ourselves,” Valenzuela said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deprecate
• diminish
• disparage
• downplay