marginal

mar·gin·al

adj \ˈmärj-nəl, ˈmär-jə-n^əl\

Definition of MARGINAL

1

: written or printed in the margin of a page or sheet <marginal notes>

2

a : of, relating to, or situated at a margin or border b : not of central importance <regards violence as a marginal rather than a central problem>; also : limited in extent, significance, or stature <had only marginal success with the business> c (1) : occupying the borderland of a relatively stable territorial or cultural area <marginal tribes> (2) : characterized by the incorporation of habits and values from two divergent cultures and by incomplete assimilation in either <the marginal cultural habits of new immigrant groups> (3) : excluded from or existing outside the mainstream of society, a group, or a school of thought <marginal voters>

3

: located at the fringe of consciousness <marginal sensations>

4

a : close to the lower limit of qualification, acceptability, or function : barely exceeding the minimum requirements <a semiliterate person of marginal ability> b (1) : having a character or capacity fitted to yield a supply of goods which when marketed at existing price levels will barely cover the cost of production <marginal land> (2) : of, relating to, or derived from goods produced and marketed with such result <marginal profits>

5

: relating to or being a function of a random variable that is obtained from a function of several random variables by integrating or summing over all possible values of the other variables <a marginal probability function>

— mar·gin·al·i·ty \ˌmär-jə-ˈna-lə-tē\ noun

— mar·gin·al·ly \ˈmärj-nə-lē, ˈmär-jə-n^əl-ē\ adverb

Examples of MARGINAL

1. There has been only a marginal improvement in her condition.
2. His reading and writing abilities are marginal.

Origin of MARGINAL

Medieval Latin marginalis, from Latin margin-, margo

First Known Use: 1573

Related to MARGINAL

Synonyms: frontier, borderline

Antonyms: interior

Related Words: outermost, outmost; exterior, external, outer, outside, outward

Near Antonyms: inner, inside, internal, inward; inmost, innermost; central, mid, middle

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Other Printing Terms

epigraph, errata, leader, mechanical, notch, tittle, underscore, widow