1
: the part of a page or sheet outside the main body of printed or written matter
2
: the outside limit and adjoining surface of something : edge
at the margin of the woods
continental margin
3
a
: a spare amount or measure or degree allowed or given for contingencies or special situations
left no margin for error
b(1)
: a bare minimum below which or an extreme limit beyond which something becomes impossible or is no longer desirable
on the margin of good taste
(2)
: the limit below which economic activity cannot be continued under normal conditions
c
: an area, state, or condition excluded from or existing outside the mainstream
the margins of critical discourse—
Barbara L. Packer
Barbara L. Packerliving in society's margins
4
a
: the difference which exists between net sales and the cost of merchandise sold and from which expenses are usually met or profit derived
b
: the excess market value of collateral over the face of a loan
c(1)
: cash or collateral that is deposited by a client with a commodity or securities broker to protect the broker from loss on a contract
(2)
: the client's equity in securities bought with the aid of credit obtained specifically (as from a broker) for that purpose
d
: a range about a specified figure within which a purchase is to be made
5
: measure or degree of difference
the bill passed by a one-vote margin
margined; margining; margins
1
a
: to provide with an edging or border
b
: to form a margin to : border
2
a
: to add margin to
margin up an account
b(1)
: to use as margin
margin bonds to buy stock
(2)
: to provide margin for
margin a transaction
c
: to buy (securities) on margin
Synonyms
Examples of margin in a Sentence
Noun
Please write your name in the left margin of the page.
a book with wide margins
Mountains lie at the city's northern margins.
Verb
the riverbed is margined by a flat beach of smooth rocks
Recent Examples on the Web
Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
The company's current EBITDA margin is 33.8%, slightly above its five-year average of 33.12%.
—Gurufocus, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Trefis Team, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
E-commerce is maybe tapped into as a bonus benefit in case someone lands on their site or is done through a partner with very little oversight or control, let alone margin.
—Brandon Amoroso, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2022
See all Example Sentences for margin 
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show current usage.
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Noun
What to know Slim margins in Maricopa County supervisor's race could lead to recount Donald Trump made gains in all four of Arizona's border counties.
—Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
The company's current EBITDA margin is 33.8%, slightly above its five-year average of 33.12%.
—Gurufocus, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
Favorable product margin rates and lower supply chain costs were also margin drivers.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
E-commerce is maybe tapped into as a bonus benefit in case someone lands on their site or is done through a partner with very little oversight or control, let alone margin.
—Brandon Amoroso, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2022
See all Example Sentences for margin
Dictionary Entries Near margin
Cite this Entry
“Margin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/margin. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
margin
noun
mar·gin
ˈmär-jən 
1
: the outside limit or edge of something (as a bodily part or a wound)
2
: the part of consciousness at a particular moment that is felt only vaguely and dimly
Legal Definition
margin
noun
mar·gin
ˈmär-jən
1
: the difference between net sales and the cost of the merchandise sold from which expenses are usually met or profits derived
2
: the amount by which the market value of collateral is greater than the face value of a loan
3
a
: cash or collateral deposited in a regulated amount by a client with a broker who is financing the purchase of securities see also regulation t
b
: a deposit made with a broker by a client who is trading in futures
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