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

If you believe that artists are being marginalized, then help them by acquiring their work.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

“But this is not about me. This is about marginalized people in Harlem that needed to heal from pain.”

From Salon

His work helped build what he called the “Rainbow Coalition,” a political movement aimed at uniting marginalized communities and expanding political participation.

From Salon

She wrote her dissertation about serial killers decades ago, and as an author gravitates to storytelling about marginalized women.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deprecate
• diminish
• disparage
• downplay