marginal

[ mahr-juh-nl ]
/ ˈmɑr dʒə nl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR marginal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

pertaining to a margin.
situated on the border or edge.
at the outer or lower limits; minimal for requirements; almost insufficient: marginal subsistence; marginal ability.
written or printed in the margin of a page: a marginal note.
Sociology. marked by contact with disparate cultures, and acquiring some but not all the traits or values common to any one of them.
Economics.
  1. selling goods at a price that just equals the additional cost of producing the last unit supplied.
  2. of or relating to goods produced and marketed at margin: marginal profits.

Origin of marginal

First recorded in 1570–80, marginal is from the Medieval Latin word marginālis of, pertaining to an edge. See margin, -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM marginal

Words nearby marginal

margin account, margin call, margin line, margin of safety, margin plank, marginal, marginal cost, marginal costing, marginal gyrus, marginal man, marginal probability

Words related to marginal

negligible, minor, minimal, insignificant, bordering, low, peripheral, small, rimming

Example sentences from the Web for marginal

British Dictionary definitions for marginal

marginal
/ (ˈmɑːdʒɪnəl) /

adjective

noun

politics, mainly British and NZ a marginal constituency

Derived forms of marginal

marginality (ˌmɑːdʒɪˈnælɪtɪ), noun marginally, adverb

Medical definitions for marginal

marginal
[ mär′jə-nəl ]

adj.

Of, relating to, located at, or constituting a margin, a border, or an edge.
Marginally within a lower standard or limit of quality.
Relating to or located at the fringe of consciousness.

Other words from marginal

mar′gin•al′i•ty (-jə-năl′ĭ-tē) n.