marginalize
verb
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Marginalized Writing vs. Marginalized People
Marginalize provides a striking case of how thoroughly the figurative use of a word can take over the literal one. The original (and now obsolete) meaning of this word, “to write notes in the margin of,” is analogous to the still-familiar noun marginalia, “marginal notes or embellishments." A margin is, of course, the blank space surrounding the text in a book. Just prior to 1970, marginalize took on the sense that is most commonly encountered today, “to relegate to an unimportant or powerless position” (that is, to the metaphorical margins of society). This use of the verb can be found as far back as 1968; an article in The Los Angeles Times from June 20th of that year reports, “[T]he Negro was kept aside, marginalized, thus composing in its large majority the chronically poor.” In its newer sense, marginalize has assumed a much more prominent place in the vocabulary than it once had.
Examples of marginalize in a Sentence
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
Those steps reflect the culture wars that have further marginalized the LGBTQ+ population, which already had above normal risk for anxiety, stress, depression and suicide ideation.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025
In the western region, a secession fight has long brewed mainly among English-speaking citizens who claim they are marginalized by the French-speaking majority.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
In turn, should the screening of an idea or initiative (un)intentionally marginalize or negatively impact a group of students, leadership is to adjust the idea/plan, 'run' the idea through the REAP again, and check inclusion.
—Krista Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for marginalize
Cite this Entry
“Marginalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marginalize. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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marginalize
verb
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