marginal
MAH-jih-nuhl
Marginal (adj) means Located at or near an edge or border. Example: “Notes were added in marginal comments throughout the manuscript.”
adj
1
Located at or near an edge or border.
"Notes were added in marginal comments throughout the manuscript."
2
Very small in size or importance; barely significant.
"The new policy had only a marginal effect on sales."
"It was a marginal improvement at best."
"The difference between the two phones is marginal, so buy the cheaper one."
3
Relating to a political seat won by a small majority.
"The party focused its campaign on a handful of marginal seats."
"The minister spends most weekends visiting a marginal seat in the north."
"Campaigners knocked on doors in a marginal constituency every evening."
noun
1
A political constituency won by a small margin.
"Several marginals switched hands in the last election."
"The party needs to hold on to its marginals to stay in power."
"Reporters waited to see which marginals would change hands overnight."
How to use marginal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSmall, borderline, or barely significant — or, in politics, a seat that could go either way.
Common pairings
marginal cost
marginal seat
marginal improvement
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Word forms
- Plural
- marginals
- Comparative
- more marginal
- Superlative
- most marginal
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Notes were added in _____ comments throughout the manuscript.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin marginālis, built from margin plus the adjective suffix -al.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for marginal
See all rhymes for marginal →Frequently asked questions
What does “marginal” mean?
The word “marginal” means located at or near an edge or border. In plain terms, small, borderline, or barely significant — or, in politics, a seat that could go either way.
How do you pronounce “marginal”?
“Marginal” is pronounced MAH-jih-nuhl (/ˈmɑɹ.d͡ʒɪ.nəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “marginal” in a sentence?
Here is “marginal” used in a sentence: “Notes were added in marginal comments throughout the manuscript.”
What part of speech is “marginal”?
Depending on how it is used, “marginal” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “marginal” come from?
The word “marginal” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin marginālis, built from margin plus the adjective suffix -al.
Is “marginal” a common word?
“Marginal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “marginal” have?
“Marginal” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: located at or near an edge or border.
What is the difference between marginal and minor?
Marginal specifically suggests something is so small or borderline that it barely counts as significant, often implying it is close to a threshold. Minor simply means small in degree or importance without that same sense of being right at the edge of significance.
What does it mean for a political seat to be marginal?
A marginal seat is a political constituency won by only a small majority, meaning the result could easily change in a future election. Because the outcome is not secure, marginal seats often receive extra attention from political parties and campaigners.
What is the difference between marginal as an adjective and a marginal as a noun?
As an adjective, marginal describes something located at an edge or barely significant, such as a marginal improvement. As a noun, a marginal refers specifically to a political constituency that was won by a small margin, making the seat's outcome uncertain.
