submarginal

American  

[suhb-mahr-juh-nl] / sʌbˈmɑr dʒə nl /

adjective

1. Biology. near the margin.

2. below the margin.

3. not worth cultivating, as land; less than satisfactory; unproductive.

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submarginal British  

/ sʌbˈmɑːdʒɪnəl /

adjective

1. below the minimum requirements

2. situated close to the margin of an organ or part

3. (of land) infertile and unprofitable for cultivation

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Other Word Forms

• submarginally adverb

Etymology

Origin of submarginal

First recorded in 1820–30; sub- + marginal

Example Sentences

Conservationists expect the stamps to yield between $600,000 and $1,000,000 yearly for use in buying submarginal farm lands, turning them into duck refuges.

From Time Magazine Archive

Later Mr. Morgenthau headed the State Conservation Commission, and Professor Warren, again a member, surveyed the marginal and submarginal lands of the State, made recommendations on which Governor Roosevelt based his reforestation program.

From Time Magazine Archive

Scheduled to be reported out of committee shortly, the Guffey bill would create a national bituminous coal commission empowered to fix prices and wages, allocate production, buy up $300,000,000 worth of submarginal coal land.

From Time Magazine Archive

He also campaigned tirelessly to educate Southerners in the economic importance of growing timber on submarginal Texas farm land.

From Time Magazine Archive

They and the coyotes lived clever, despairing, submarginal lives.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck