What does "marginal" mean?

1. (small or minor) very small in amount or effect; not very important. 2. (at the edge) relating to or located at the edge or border of something. 3. (socially excluded) describing people or groups who are treated as unimportant and kept away from power. 4. (incremental cost or benefit) relating to the cost or benefit of producing or buying one more of something. 5. (politically uncertain) describing a seat in parliament that was won by a very small number of votes. 6. (a swing seat) a voting area that could easily change which party it supports.

marginal

adj. · n.

US //ˈmɑɹdʒənəɫ// UK //mˈɑːdʒɪnəl// mar·gin·al

1 small or minor (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

very small in amount or effect; not very important.

of minor importance, size, or effect; slight or insignificant.

Example

The new law only made a marginal difference to the lives of most people.

Example

The proposed changes to the tax code are expected to have only a marginal impact on the overall economy this fiscal year.
2 at the edge (adj.)
C1 Advanced Academic

relating to or located at the edge or border of something.

pertaining to or situated at a margin or border; peripheral.

Example

The scientist made some marginal notes in the book while she was reading.

Example

The study focuses on marginal land that is difficult to farm because it sits on the edge of the desert.
- central
- core

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3 socially excluded (adj.)
C1 Advanced Academic Sociology

describing people or groups who are treated as unimportant and kept away from power.

relating to groups or individuals excluded from the main social, economic, or political life of a community.

Example

The charity works with marginal groups who often struggle to find housing.

Example

Sociologists argue that marginal communities often develop unique cultural identities as a response to their exclusion from mainstream society.
- marginalized
- excluded
- disenfranchised
- mainstream
- privileged
4 incremental cost or benefit (adj.)
C1 Advanced Technical Economics

relating to the cost or benefit of producing or buying one more of something.

relating to the change in total cost or revenue resulting from a one-unit increase in production or consumption.

Example

The marginal cost of making one extra phone is actually very low.

Example

In a perfectly competitive market, firms continue to produce until the marginal cost equals the marginal revenue.
- incremental
- additional
- total
- average
5 politically uncertain (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate British English Politics

describing a seat in parliament that was won by a very small number of votes.

referring to a constituency or seat held by a very small majority, making it vulnerable to a change in party control.

Example

The prime minister visited several marginal seats during the final week of the election.

Example

The party focused its advertising budget on marginal constituencies where a shift of just a few hundred votes could determine the outcome.
- safe
6 a swing seat (n.)
C1 Advanced British English Formal Politics

a voting area that could easily change which party it supports.

a constituency or electoral district won by a narrow margin, often targeted by political parties during campaigns.

Example

If the government loses this marginal, they might lose the whole election.

Example

Political analysts are closely watching the urban marginals, as these seats often serve as bellwethers for national voting trends.
- swing seat
- battleground
- safe seat

Origin

Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin marginālis, equivalent to margin + -al.

Word family

Adjectivemarginal
Adverbmarginally