marginal

adjective

mar·​gin·​al ˈmärj-nəl How to pronounce marginal (audio)
ˈmär-jə-nᵊl
1
: written or printed in the margin of a page or sheet
marginal notes
2
a
: of, relating to, or situated at a margin or border
b
: not of central importance
regards violence as a marginal rather than a central problem
also : limited in extent, significance, or stature
had only marginal success with the business
c(1)
: occupying the borderland of a relatively stable territorial or cultural area
marginal tribes
(2)
: characterized by the incorporation of habits and values from two divergent (see divergent sense 1) cultures and by incomplete assimilation (see assimilate entry 1 sense 2a) in either
the marginal cultural habits of new immigrant groups
(3)
: excluded from or existing outside the mainstream of society, a group, or a school of thought
marginal voters
3
: located at the fringe of consciousness
marginal sensations
4
a
: close to the lower limit of qualification, acceptability, or function : barely exceeding the minimum requirements
a semiliterate person of marginal ability
b(1)
: having a character or capacity fitted to yield a supply of goods which when marketed at existing price levels will barely cover the cost of production
marginal land
(2)
: of, relating to, or derived from goods produced and marketed with such result
marginal profits
5
: relating to or being a function of a random variable that is obtained from a function of several random variables by integrating or summing over all possible values of the other variables
a marginal probability function
marginality noun
marginally
ˈmärj-nə-lē How to pronounce marginal (audio)
ˈmär-jə-nᵊl-ē
adverb

Examples of marginal in a Sentence

There has been only a marginal improvement in her condition. His reading and writing abilities are marginal.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That’s a Washington game, and New York has never been more marginal. Ben Smith, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025 In his typical style, one of brevity and striking charts, Slok added that the figure equates to roughly 18% of annual household income tax payments, underscoring that tariffs are not a marginal tool but a significant revenue source shaping America’s economic and trade landscape. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025 Artists of color have long felt pressure to capitalize on the most marginal aspects of their biographies, as white critics (most critics) have remained eager to dismiss those who address race or colonialism in their work as politically correct or identity obsessed. Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025 For corporates and investors, these are not marginal disturbances but systemic shocks that shape cost of capital, supply chains, and portfolio performance. Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for marginal

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin marginalis, from Latin margin-, margo

First Known Use

1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of marginal was in 1573

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Marginal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marginal. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

marginal

adjective
mar·​gin·​al ˈmärj-nəl How to pronounce marginal (audio)
-ən-ᵊl
1
: written or printed in the margin
marginal notes
2
: of, relating to, or situated at a margin or border
3
: close to the lower limit of quality
marginal ability
marginal land
marginally
-nə-lē How to pronounce marginal (audio)
-ən-ᵊl-ē
adverb

Medical Definition

marginal

adjective
mar·​gin·​al ˈmärj-nəl, -ən-ᵊl How to pronounce marginal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or situated at a margin or border
2
: located at the fringe of consciousness
marginal sensations

More from Merriam-Webster on marginal

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