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   marginal

   /ˈmɑːdʒɪnl/

   adjective

   • 1. relating 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"
   • 2. minor and not important; not central: "it seems likely to make only a marginal difference" Similar slightsmalltinyminutelowminorinsignificantminimalnegligibleOpposite vastgross
   • ▪ (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" Similar borderlinedisputablequestionabledoubtful
   • ▪ (of a parliamentary or council seat) held by a small majority and therefore at risk in an election. British
   • ▪ close to the limit of profitability, especially through difficulty of exploitation: "marginal farmland"

   noun

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

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

   Derivatives

   • 1. marginality noun

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • M

     3

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • G

     2

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

   • A

     1

   • L

     1

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