marginalized

American  

[mahr-juh-nl-ahyzd] / ˈmɑr dʒə nlˌaɪzd /

especially British, marginalised

adjective

1. placed in a position of little or no importance, influence, or power.

   Technology has the power to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and strengthen our democracy.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of marginalize.

Etymology

Origin of marginalized

marginalize ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

Anyone who's marginalized has been pushed to the edges of society and made to feel insignificant. Marginalized people often include members of racial, cultural, and religious minorities. Marginalized comes from margin, which means "the edge of a page." When groups are marginalized, they're figuratively kept in society's margins, away from the center where power and privilege lies. Marginalized people are labeled as outsiders for reasons such as their skin color, poverty, education level, gender identification, age, or disabilities. At the fringes of society, marginalized people often live without full access to their civil rights.

Example Sentences

“Alma’s Way” creator Sonia Manzano says PBS Kids prioritizes that every child is reflected on screen and that marginalized people feel seen.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

It’s also not like superhero comic books haven’t had storylines about marginalized communities or interrogating people in power.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Hancock said that Kennedy’s views have a lasting impact on the future of health care in marginalized communities.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

Against the backdrop of a society so focused on young people, I can occasionally feel marginalized, relegated to the sidelines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

As legal scholar John A. Powell once commented, only half in jest, “It’s actually better to be exploited than marginalized, in some respects, because if you’re exploited presumably you’re still needed.”

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander