- pertaining to a margin.
- situated on the border or edge.
- at the outer or lower limits; minimal for requirements; almost insufficient: marginal subsistence;marginal ability.
- written or printed in the margin of a page: a marginal note.
- of minor importance, significance, relevance, or effect: Ethics is not a marginal issue, as it is the basis for the movement and progress of society.Grids using even larger voltages are now being constructed, but will probably make only a marginal improvement in costs.
- Sociology.
- marked by contact with disparate cultures, and acquiring some but not all the traits or values common to any one of them: The “marginal man” is one who is poised in psychological uncertainty between two or more worlds.
- isolated from and not fully accepted by the dominant society or culture, and as a consequence, frequently disadvantaged: An overarching desire exists to foster social inclusion of all marginal groups, including people with a mental illness.
- existing outside of the mainstream; unconventional: We hope the site is a place to enliven our own sometimes-isolated work in these marginal art forms.
- Economics.
- selling goods at a price that just equals the additional cost of producing the last unit supplied.
- of or relating to goods produced and marketed at margin: marginal profits.
- of, in, on, or constituting a margin
- close to a limit, esp a lower limit
- not considered central or important; insignificant, minor, small
- relating to goods or services produced and sold at the margin of profitability
- of or designating a constituency in which elections tend to be won by small margins
- designating agricultural land on the margin of cultivated zones
- relating to a small change in something, such as total cost, revenue, or consumer satisfaction
- a marginal constituency
