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
Those small issues that started earlier—a weak battery or marginal coolant levels—often finally fail during long, hot drives.
—
Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Storms could bring gusty winds up to 60 miles per hour and small hail as the area remains under a marginal risk (Level 1) for severe weather.
—Mary Kay Kleist, CBS News, 16 May 2026
The Storm Prediction Center, part of the National Weather Service, has placed locations north of a line from Leavenworth to Kirksville within a slight risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather, with a marginal risk (Level 1 of 5) for the Kansas City metro and the remainder of the forecast area.
—Kansas City Star, 15 May 2026
His uncompromising vision for America was once considered marginal, the conservative writer Karen Swallow Prior told me.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for marginal
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Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Storms could bring gusty winds up to 60 miles per hour and small hail as the area remains under a marginal risk (Level 1) for severe weather.
—Mary Kay Kleist, CBS News, 16 May 2026
The Storm Prediction Center, part of the National Weather Service, has placed locations north of a line from Leavenworth to Kirksville within a slight risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather, with a marginal risk (Level 1 of 5) for the Kansas City metro and the remainder of the forecast area.
—Kansas City Star, 15 May 2026
His uncompromising vision for America was once considered marginal, the conservative writer Karen Swallow Prior told me.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for marginal
Cite this Entry
“Marginal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marginal. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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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