Marginal

/ˈmɑː.d͡ʒɪ.nəl/ · adjective

Meaning

(not comparable) Of, relating to, or located at or near a margin or edge; also figurative usages of location and margin (edge)..

Definitions by Sense

1. (not comparable) Of, relating to, or located at or near a margin or edge; also figurative usages of location and margin (edge).
2. (comparable) Determined by a small margin; having a salient characteristic determined by a small margin.
3. (economics, not comparable) Pertaining to changes resulting from a unit increase in production or consumption of a good.
4. (sociology) Marginalized.
5. Something or somebody that is marginal.
6. (politics) A constituency won with a small margin.

Example Sentences

The marginal area at the edge of the salt-marsh has its own plants.

In recent years there has been an increase in violence against marginal groups.

The caseworker couldn't understand how I could have stretched out my last bit of money for so long. She seemed convinced that I was "hiding" income from her and interrogated me for I don't know how long. […] The system seems based on the assumption that people are "welfare cheats." If you don't speak English or are marginal in some other way, it's worse.

[…] discusses those who belong to the discipline's dominant cults, the mainliners, and their relations with the marginals and mavericks.

“We need a saint or some other symbol that will serve to anchor our faith into the foreseeable future. I have watched and waited for a saint but none showed up—not even a marginal saint. Mary is the first one, and we must not allow her ...

Synonyms for marginal

Antonyms for marginal

Related Words

Word Forms

• more marginal
• most marginal
• marginals

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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