# margin

/ˈmɑɹdʒən/ (US) · /mˈɑːdʒɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/margin
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. edge of a page

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- She wrote several small notes in the left margin of her textbook.
- The student was instructed to leave a wide margin on the right side of the essay for the professor's feedback and corrections.

### 2. difference in results

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The politician won the election by a very small margin of only fifty votes.
- The team secured their victory by a narrow margin, scoring the winning goal in the final seconds of the match.

### 3. profit

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

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

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

- The company is trying to increase its profit margin by reducing shipping costs.
- Retailers often operate on thin margins, relying on high sales volumes to compensate for the low profit earned on individual items.

### 4. collateral for trading

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

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

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

For teachers: the boundary area extending along the edge of the leaf blade.

- You can identify this tree by the jagged margin of its leaves.
- The botanist noted that the leaf margin was serrated, a key characteristic for distinguishing this species from its relatives.

### 6. to add a border

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

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

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

- The old manuscript was heavily margined with comments from previous readers.
- The editor carefully margined the draft, ensuring that the layout complied with the publisher's strict formatting requirements.

## Examples

- Please write your notes in the left margin.
- The candidate won the local election by a narrow margin of only fifty votes.
- The company managed to increase its profit margin by streamlining the manufacturing process and reducing waste across all departments.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.