marginal

 
Pronunciation: /ˈmɑːdʒɪn(ə)l/

adjective

  • 1relating to or at the edge or margin: marginal notes
  • relating to water adjacent to the land’s edge or coast: water lilies and marginal aquatics
  • 2minor and not important; not central: it seems likely to make only a marginal difference the cost is negligible, less than marginal
  • (of costs or benefits) relating to or resulting from small or unit changes: the issue is to estimate the marginal benefit from the increased frequency of screening examinations against the marginal increased cost
  • (of taxation) relating to increases in income: the marginal tax rates on these incomes rise to as much as 80 per cent in some republics
  • 3(of a decision or distinction) very narrow; borderline: a marginal offside decision
  • British (of a parliamentary or council seat) held by a small majority and therefore at risk in an election.
  • close to the limit of profitability, especially through difficulty of exploitation: marginal farmland

noun

  • 1British a seat in a parliament or on a council that is held by a small majority and is at risk in an election: she is defending a key marginal for the Tories
  • 2a plant that grows in water close to the edge of land: remove any dead foliage on water lilies and marginals

Derivatives

marginality

Pronunciation: /-ˈnalɪti/
noun

Origin:

late 16th century: from medieval Latin marginalis, from margo, margin- (see margin)