1
a
: not very important
a marginal problem
b
: very slight or small
There has been only a marginal improvement in her condition.
2
: not included in the main part of society or of a group
marginal voters
3
chiefly US
: not very good
His reading and writing abilities are marginal.
She's a marginal athlete.
marginal living conditions
4
always used before a noun
: written or printed in the margin of a page
marginal notes
5
British
: able to be won or lost by changing only a few votes
At the next election the opposition parties will try to capture some marginal seats [=marginals] from the government.
6
of land
: just able to produce enough crops to pay for the cost of producing those crops
farmers who must eke out a living on marginal land(s)
plural marginals
British
: a political seat, position, etc., that is won or lost by only a few votes
How many marginals changed hands at the last election?
Cite this Entry
“Marginal.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/marginal. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.
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