margin

1 of 2

noun

mar·​gin ˈmär-jən 

1

: the part of a page or sheet outside the main body of printed or written matter

2

: the outside limit and adjoining surface of something : edge

at the margin of the woods

continental margin

3

a

: a spare amount or measure or degree allowed or given for contingencies or special situations

left no margin for error

b(1)

: a bare minimum below which or an extreme limit beyond which something becomes impossible or is no longer desirable

on the margin of good taste

(2)

: the limit below which economic activity cannot be continued under normal conditions

c

: an area, state, or condition excluded from or existing outside the mainstream

the margins of critical discourse

—Barbara L. Packer

living in society's margins

4

a

: the difference which exists between net sales and the cost of merchandise sold and from which expenses are usually met or profit derived

b

: the excess market value of collateral over the face of a loan

c(1)

: cash or collateral that is deposited by a client with a commodity or securities broker to protect the broker from loss on a contract

(2)

: the client's equity in securities bought with the aid of credit obtained specifically (as from a broker) for that purpose

d

: a range about a specified figure within which a purchase is to be made

5

: measure or degree of difference

the bill passed by a one-vote margin

margined

ˈmär-jənd 

adjective

margin

2 of 2

verb

margined; margining; margins

transitive verb

1

a

: to provide with an edging or border

b

: to form a margin to : border

2

a

: to add margin to

margin up an account

b(1)

: to use as margin

margin bonds to buy stock

(2)

: to provide margin for

margin a transaction

c

: to buy (securities) on margin

Synonyms

Noun

• edge
• perimeter
• edging
• boundary
• circumference
• border
• confines

Verb

• border

Examples of margin in a Sentence

Noun

Please write your name in the left margin of the page.

a book with wide margins

Mountains lie at the city's northern margins.

Verb

the riverbed is margined by a flat beach of smooth rocks

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Second, the government data flow has been choppy in October, but alternative indicators and prior releases still point to slower growth alongside inflation that remains above target but trending less sticky at the margin. —Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 29 Oct. 2025

In Maine, the pollster surveyed 1,094 residents and the poll had a 3 percent margin of error. —Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025

Verb

Taken together, that’s a 5- to 10-point swing in costs that has brought the respectable 10 percent or 12 percent EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margin down into the doldrums of the midsingle digits. —Evan Clark, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025

Medicare Advantage enrollment directly influences UnitedHealth’s profitability—the mix and quality of plans that enrollees choose drives government bonuses and margin differences. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin margin-, margo border — more at mark

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1715, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing margin

• profit margin

Rhymes for margin

• arjun

Kids Definition

margin

1 of 2 noun

mar·​gin ˈmär-jən 

1

: the part of a page outside the main body of printed or written matter

2

: boundary area

3

: an extra amount (as of time) allowed for use if needed

margined

-jənd 

adjective

margin

2 of 2 verb

1

: to provide with a margin

2

: to form a margin to : border

Medical Definition

margin

noun

mar·​gin ˈmär-jən 

1

: the outside limit or edge of something (as a bodily part or a wound)

2

: the part of consciousness at a particular moment that is felt only vaguely and dimly

Legal Definition

margin

noun

mar·​gin ˈmär-jən 

1

: the difference between net sales and the cost of the merchandise sold from which expenses are usually met or profits derived

2

: the amount by which the market value of collateral is greater than the face value of a loan

3

a

: cash or collateral deposited in a regulated amount by a client with a broker who is financing the purchase of securities see also regulation t

b

: a deposit made with a broker by a client who is trading in futures