26984 words

marginal

10 definitions • 16 examples
1
very small in amount or effect:

Examples:

The report suggests that there has only been a marginal improvement in women's pay over the past few years.
2
of interest to only a few people:

Examples:

articles about subjects of marginal interest
3
the idea that small improvements can lead to big results over time, or one of these small improvements:

Examples:

Marginal gain is the idea that small, incremental improvements can lead to significant overall gains.
Asked whether any one of his marginal gains had been crucial, Brailsford said: "Not really. It's an amalgamation of everything that we do."
4
A marginal political area or position in parliament can be won by only a small number of votes because support for the main parties is equally divided among the people voting:

Examples:

marginal constituency The marginal Tory constituency was held by 2,200 votes.
5
a marginal political area or position in parliament:

Examples:

key marginal Labour lost two of the key marginals in London.
The minister's own seat is a Tory marginal.
6

Examples:

The difference between the two bids was marginal.
7
very small in amount or effect:

Examples:

a marginal improvement/increase/decrease The report suggests that there has only been a marginal improvement in women's pay over the past few years.
We have doubled our computing power at a marginal extra cost.
The fuel-price increase will have only a marginal effect on the road fuel market.
8
not very important:

Examples:

Manufacturing is only a marginal sector in the UK these days.
Their contribution to business strategy has been marginal.
9
producing just enough income to cover the costs of making and selling something:

Examples:

Their sales volumes are marginal.
For years, these marginal operators have only just managed to keep going and banks will not look at them favorably.
10
a marginal seat (= area with one political representative) is one in which a politician has won by a small number of votes, so it is fairly likely to be won by another party when there is an election:

Examples:

These MPs have rural seats, many of them marginal.

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