adj.
Pronunciation: ' märj-n ə l, ' mär-j ə -n ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin marginalis, from Latin margin-, margo
Date: 1573
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 cultures and by incomplete assimilation 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>
– mar · gin · al · i · ty \ ˌ mär-j ə - ' na-l ə -t ē \ noun
– mar · gin · al · ly \ ' märj-n ə -l ē , ' mär-j ə -n ə l- ē \ adverb