marginal
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.
of minor importance, significance, relevance, or effect: Ethics is not a marginal issue, as it is the basis for the movement and progress of society.Grids using even larger voltages are now being constructed, but will probably make only a marginal improvement in costs.
Sociology.
marked by contact with disparate cultures, and acquiring some but not all the traits or values common to any one of them: The “marginal man” is one who is poised in psychological uncertainty between two or more worlds.
isolated from and not fully accepted by the dominant society or culture, and as a consequence, frequently disadvantaged: An overarching desire exists to foster social inclusion of all marginal groups, including people with a mental illness.
existing outside of the mainstream; unconventional: We hope the site is a place to enliven our own sometimes-isolated work in these marginal art forms.
Economics.
selling goods at a price that just equals the additional cost of producing the last unit supplied.
of or relating to goods produced and marketed at margin: marginal profits.
Origin of marginal
1Other words from marginal
- mar·gin·al·i·ty [mahr-juh-nal-i-tee], /ˌmɑr dʒəˈnæl ɪ ti/, noun
- mar·gin·al·ly, adverb
- in·ter·mar·gi·nal, adjective
- su·per·mar·gin·al, adjective
- trans·mar·gi·nal, adjective
- un·mar·gin·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for marginal
/ (ˈmɑːdʒɪnəl) /
of, in, on, or constituting a margin
close to a limit, esp a lower limit: marginal legal ability
not considered central or important; insignificant, minor, small
economics relating to goods or services produced and sold at the margin of profitability: marginal cost
politics, mainly British and NZ of or designating a constituency in which elections tend to be won by small margins: a marginal seat
designating agricultural land on the margin of cultivated zones
economics relating to a small change in something, such as total cost, revenue, or consumer satisfaction
politics, mainly British and NZ a marginal constituency
Derived forms of marginal
- marginality (ˌmɑːdʒɪˈnælɪtɪ), noun
- marginally, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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