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marginal

marginal

2 8.1
A person who lives outside the main part of society
  • noun
  • /ˈmɑrdʒɪnəl/
: marginado
  • Marginals are deprived of virtually all the roles of which functioning society is composed.

Examples

  • They weren't an ethnic group so much as a marginal social group of people in revolt, if you will.

  • Many marginals struggle to find acceptance in a society that often overlooks their contributions.

  • It was known even for that marginal student.

  • I mean, there's a reason why this guy is, is, is a marginal figure in, in, you know, mainstream channels.

  • In short, a socialization period was important for transforming migrants into "radicalized marginals."

    Academic text (2002)
  • In practical terms, since marginals are typically a minority of all workers, the outside reputations of most blacks will be lowered, and that of most whites enhanced, by preferential hiring.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Authorities can therefore characterize the marginals' straggle as an irritating and misguided aberration of little consequence to the normal functioning of the state.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Moreover, among whites, only marginals are harmed by the program, for only they lose the chance of securing a job, and only they see their reputations harmed by virtue of being placed in the same category as white failures.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Historically, marginals have faced significant barriers to accessing education and employment.

  • The festival aimed to highlight the voices of marginals who are often excluded from mainstream culture.

Synonyms

outsider
vsmarginal
264 4.1

A person who is not accepted by a group or community

is excluded from broader social economic and cultural life rather than one group
alien
vsmarginal
17 4.4

A person who feels they do not belong in a group or place

describes being pushed outside mainstream social and economic life rather than feeling different
foreigner
vsmarginal
1 3.7

A person not accepted by a group

focuses on exclusion from whole society and mainstream life not one group

Antonyms

413 3.4

The ideas and activities most people accept as normal

16 4.2

Open to people of all races and groups living or working together

Compounds

marginal cost
  • Specialized
5 4.8

The extra cost to make one more item

marginal utility
  • Specialized
3 7.0

Extra enjoyment you get from one more item, like a slice of pizza

marginal placentation
  • Specialized
9.8

Seeds attach in a single row along one side of a pod, like in peas

A common North American fern with evergreen fronds that grows in shade

How Included

insider
184 5.0
member
∞ 1.4
marginal
2 8.1
outsider
264 4.1
outcast
12 5.1

Surface Forms

marginal singular
marginals plural

Morphology

marginal = marginal (semi-transparent) = margin + al

The noun is a zero-derived use of the adjective 'marginal', so the form is unchanged and the relationship is straightforward.

Etymology

Marginal as a noun comes from margin, meaning 'edge', and was used for things outside the main part. So a marginal person lives at the 'edge' of society, not in the centre.