marginal

pronunciation

How to pronounce marginal in British English: UK [ˈmɑːdʒɪnl]word uk audio image

How to pronounce marginal in American English: US [ˈmɑːrdʒɪnl] word us audio image

  • Adjective:
    at or constituting a border or edge
    of questionable or minimal quality
    of a bare living gained by great labor
    just barely adequate or within a lower limit
    producing at a rate that barely covers production costs
    of something or someone close to a lower limit or lower class

Word Origin

marginal (adj.)
1570s, "written on the margin," from Medieval Latin marginalis, from Latin margo "edge, brink, border, margin" (see margin (n.)). Sense of "of little effect or importance" first recorded 1887. Related: Marginally.

Example

1. But I never questioned his history of marginal employment again .
2. But south africa 's rulers probably barely care what these marginal people believe .
3. But for much of the past 15 years they have been a marginal force .
4. Only a marginal relationship was found in those who had undergone stressful life events .
5. Imagine that success on some of these currently marginal climate issues came fairly quickly and easily .

more: >How to Use "marginal" with Example Sentences