marginal Meaning & Definition
What Does Marginal Mean?
Marginal is an adjective that means Of, relating to, or located at or near a margin or edge; also figurative usages of location and margin (edge). It can also mean Written in the margin of a book. As a noun, it means Something or somebody that is marginal. As a noun, it means Something that is marginal.
Marginal: Key Facts
| Part of speech | adjective, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈmɑː.d͡ʒɪ.nəl// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | bare, meager and edge |
| Plural | marginals |
| Comparative / superlative | more marginal, most marginal |
Marginal Definition (Adjective)
- Of, relating to, or located at or near a margin or edge; also figurative usages of location and margin (edge).
The marginal area at the edge of the salt-marsh has its own plants.
- Written in the margin of a book.
There were more marginal notes than text.
- Sharing a border; geographically adjacent.
Monmouthshire is a Welsh county marginal to England.
- Determined by a small margin; having a salient characteristic determined by a small margin.
Of a value, or having a characteristic that is of a value, that is close to being unacceptable or leading to exclusion from a group or category.
His writing ability was marginal at best.
- Of a value, or having a characteristic that is of a value, that is close to being unacceptable or leading to exclusion from a group or category.
His writing ability was marginal at best.
- Barely productive.
He farmed his marginal land with difficulty.
- Subject to a change in sitting member with only a small change in voting behaviour, this usually being inferred from the small winning margin of the previous election.
In Bristol West, Labour had a majority of only 1,000, so the seat is considered highly marginal this time around.
- Pertaining to changes resulting from a unit increase in production or consumption of a good.
- Marginalized.
Marginal as a Noun
- Something or somebody that is marginal.
- A constituency won with a small margin.
Noun
- Something that is marginal.
Adjective
- Determined by a small margin; having a salient characteristic determined by a small margin.
Synonyms of Marginal
Antonyms of Marginal
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Marginal in a Sentence
The marginal area at the edge of the salt-marsh has its own plants.
In recent years there has been an increase in violence against marginal groups.
There were more marginal notes than text.
Monmouthshire is a Welsh county marginal to England.
His writing ability was marginal at best.
Having reviewed the test, there are two students below the required standard and three more who are marginal.
The pilots lacked experience flying in marginal weather conditions.
He farmed his marginal land with difficulty.
In Bristol West, Labour had a majority of only 1,000, so the seat is considered highly marginal this time around.
Word Forms & Grammar
marginal (not generally comparable, comparative more marginal, superlative most marginal)
marginal (plural marginals)
Words That Rhyme With Marginal
Origin of Marginal
Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin marginālis, equivalent to margin + -al.
How Do You Say Marginal?
The standard pronunciation of marginal is //ˈmɑː.d͡ʒɪ.nəl//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Marginal
Is marginal an adjective or a noun?
Marginal is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for marginal?
Words with a similar meaning to marginal include bare, meager and edge. See the full list of marginal synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of marginal?
The plural of marginal is marginals.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of marginal?
The comparative form is more marginal and the superlative form is most marginal.