MARGINAL


Meaning of MARGINAL in English

/ ˈmɑːdʒɪnl; NAmE ˈmɑːrdʒ-/ adjective , noun

■ adjective

1.

small and not important

SYN slight :

a marginal improvement in weather conditions

The story will only be of marginal interest to our readers.

2.

not part of a main or important group or situation :

marginal groups in society

3.

( politics ) ( especially BrE ) won or lost by a very small number of votes and therefore very important or interesting as an indication of public opinion :

a marginal seat / constituency

4.

[ only before noun ] written in the margin of a page :

marginal notes / comments

5.

( of land ) that cannot produce enough good crops to make a profit

■ noun

( BrE ) a seat in a parliament, on a local council, etc. that was won by a very small number of votes :

a Labour marginal

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WORD ORIGIN

late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin marginalis , from margo , margin- edge.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.