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
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
Everton have shown marginal improvement in big-chance conversion.
—
Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Although both groups enjoyed only marginal support in the golden years of the Republic, the crisis of the early 1930s led droves of disillusioned voters into the arms of these parties offering radical solutions.
—Time, 23 Oct. 2025
The difference was pretty marginal—most parents, regardless of income level, reported finding parenthood enjoyable all or most of the time—but that one data point got people talking.
—Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
By contrast, new housing, especially when replacing empty lots or obsolete uses, tends to have just a marginal impact on traffic.
—Belal Aftab, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for marginal
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Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Although both groups enjoyed only marginal support in the golden years of the Republic, the crisis of the early 1930s led droves of disillusioned voters into the arms of these parties offering radical solutions.
—Time, 23 Oct. 2025
The difference was pretty marginal—most parents, regardless of income level, reported finding parenthood enjoyable all or most of the time—but that one data point got people talking.
—Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
By contrast, new housing, especially when replacing empty lots or obsolete uses, tends to have just a marginal impact on traffic.
—Belal Aftab, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for marginal
Cite this Entry
“Marginal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marginal. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
marginal
adjective
mar·gin·al
ˈmärj-nəl, -ən-ᵊl 
1
: of, relating to, or situated at a margin or border
2
: located at the fringe of consciousness
marginal sensations
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