What does "margin" mean?

1. (edge of a page) the empty white space at the side, top, or bottom of a printed page. 2. (difference in results) the amount of points, votes, or time that separates the winner from the loser. 3. (profit) the difference between the cost of making something and the price it is sold for. 4. (collateral for trading) money or property given to a broker as a guarantee when borrowing money to buy stocks. 5. (edge of a leaf) the outer edge or border of a plant's leaf. 6. (to add a border) to provide something with a border or to write notes in the edge of a page.

margin

n. · v.

US //ˈmɑɹdʒən// UK //mˈɑːdʒɪn// mar·gin

1 edge of a page (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the empty white space at the side, top, or bottom of a printed page.

the blank border on each side of the text on a page, often used for annotations.

Example

She wrote several small notes in the left margin of her textbook.

Example

The student was instructed to leave a wide margin on the right side of the essay for the professor's feedback and corrections.
- center
2 difference in results (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the amount of points, votes, or time that separates the winner from the loser.

the amount by which one thing is different from another, particularly in a competitive context.

Example

The politician won the election by a very small margin of only fifty votes.

Example

The team secured their victory by a narrow margin, scoring the winning goal in the final seconds of the match.

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3 profit (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic Finance

the difference between the cost of making something and the price it is sold for.

the difference between the total cost of production and the final selling price, representing the net profit per unit.

Example

The company is trying to increase its profit margin by reducing shipping costs.

Example

Retailers often operate on thin margins, relying on high sales volumes to compensate for the low profit earned on individual items.
- loss
4 collateral for trading (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Finance

money or property given to a broker as a guarantee when borrowing money to buy stocks.

collateral deposited by an investor with their broker to cover the credit risk of a transaction.

Example

He had to sell his shares because he couldn't meet the margin call.

Example

Trading on margin allows investors to leverage their positions, though it significantly increases the risk of substantial financial loss if the market turns.
5 edge of a leaf (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Botany

the outer edge or border of a plant's leaf.

the boundary area extending along the edge of the leaf blade.

Example

You can identify this tree by the jagged margin of its leaves.

Example

The botanist noted that the leaf margin was serrated, a key characteristic for distinguishing this species from its relatives.
- edge
- border
6 to add a border (v.)
C2 Proficiency Formal

to provide something with a border or to write notes in the edge of a page.

to provide with a margin or to annotate within the marginal space of a document.

Example

The old manuscript was heavily margined with comments from previous readers.

Example

The editor carefully margined the draft, ensuring that the layout complied with the publisher's strict formatting requirements.
- border
- edge
- annotate

Origin

From Middle English margyn, from Latin marginem (possibly via Old French margin), accusative of margō (“edge, brink, border, margin”). Doublet of marge and margo.