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 (see divergent sense 1) cultures and by incomplete assimilation (see assimilate entry 1 sense 2a) 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
Examples of marginal in a Sentence
There has been only a marginal improvement in her condition.
His reading and writing abilities are marginal.
Recent Examples on the Web
The modifications don’t just result in marginal gains, either, as these cars have set production vehicle lap records at race tracks like the Nürburgring and Silverstone.
—
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2024
Harris did make some gains among seniors, saw marginal losses with Black voters and held her own with white voters, but those massive drops with Latinos and young voters were damaging.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 22 Nov. 2024
Documents may have been uploaded, and a subscription may have added a marginal fee, but the fallout was limited.
—Rajat Bhargava, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
The Cubs might need to take back an inflated contract, or accept marginal prospects in a deal.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for marginal 
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Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2024
Harris did make some gains among seniors, saw marginal losses with Black voters and held her own with white voters, but those massive drops with Latinos and young voters were damaging.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 22 Nov. 2024
Documents may have been uploaded, and a subscription may have added a marginal fee, but the fallout was limited.
—Rajat Bhargava, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
The Cubs might need to take back an inflated contract, or accept marginal prospects in a deal.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for marginal
Articles Related to marginal
Dictionary Entries Near marginal
Cite this Entry
“Marginal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marginal. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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Medical Definition
marginal
adjective
mar·gin·al
ˈmärj-nəl, -ən-ᵊl 
1
: of, relating to, or situated at a margin or border
2
: located at the fringe of consciousness
marginal sensations
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