margin

1 of 2

noun

mar·​gin ˈmär-jən 

1

: the part of a page or sheet outside the main body of printed or written matter

2

: the outside limit and adjoining surface of something : edge

at the margin of the woods

continental margin

3

a

: a spare amount or measure or degree allowed or given for contingencies or special situations

left no margin for error

b(1)

: a bare minimum below which or an extreme limit beyond which something becomes impossible or is no longer desirable

on the margin of good taste

(2)

: the limit below which economic activity cannot be continued under normal conditions

c

: an area, state, or condition excluded from or existing outside the mainstream

the margins of critical discourse

—Barbara L. Packer

living in society's margins

4

a

: the difference which exists between net sales and the cost of merchandise sold and from which expenses are usually met or profit derived

b

: the excess market value of collateral over the face of a loan

c(1)

: cash or collateral that is deposited by a client with a commodity or securities broker to protect the broker from loss on a contract

(2)

: the client's equity in securities bought with the aid of credit obtained specifically (as from a broker) for that purpose

d

: a range about a specified figure within which a purchase is to be made

5

: measure or degree of difference

the bill passed by a one-vote margin

margined

ˈmär-jənd 

adjective

margin

2 of 2

verb

margined; margining; margins

transitive verb

1

a

: to provide with an edging or border

b

: to form a margin to : border

2

a

: to add margin to

margin up an account

b(1)

: to use as margin

margin bonds to buy stock

(2)

: to provide margin for

margin a transaction

c

: to buy (securities) on margin

Synonyms

Noun

• border
• borderline
• bound
• boundary
• brim
• circumference
• compass
• confines
• edge
• edging
• end
• frame
• fringe
• hem
• perimeter
• periphery
• rim
• skirt
• skirting
• verge

Verb

• border
• bound
• edge
• frame
• fringe
• rim
• skirt

Examples of margin in a Sentence

Noun

Please write your name in the left margin of the page.

a book with wide margins

Mountains lie at the city's northern margins.

Verb

the riverbed is margined by a flat beach of smooth rocks

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That year, a Libertarian candidate drew many times that margin. —Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024

But an early two-to-one margin in favor of the recall had shifted only slightly in Friday night results, leading Thao to concede. —Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024

Verb

Favorable product margin rates and lower supply chain costs were also margin drivers. —Trefis Team, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024

E-commerce is maybe tapped into as a bonus benefit in case someone lands on their site or is done through a partner with very little oversight or control, let alone margin. —Brandon Amoroso, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin margin-, margo border — more at mark

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1715, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing margin

• profit margin

Kids Definition

margin

1 of 2 noun

mar·​gin ˈmär-jən 

1

: the part of a page outside the main body of printed or written matter

2

: boundary area

3

: an extra amount (as of time) allowed for use if needed

margined

-jənd 

adjective

margin

2 of 2 verb

1

: to provide with a margin

2

: to form a margin to : border

Medical Definition

margin

noun

mar·​gin ˈmär-jən 

1

: the outside limit or edge of something (as a bodily part or a wound)

2

: the part of consciousness at a particular moment that is felt only vaguely and dimly

Legal Definition

margin

noun

mar·​gin ˈmär-jən 

1

: the difference between net sales and the cost of the merchandise sold from which expenses are usually met or profits derived

2

: the amount by which the market value of collateral is greater than the face value of a loan

3

a

: cash or collateral deposited in a regulated amount by a client with a broker who is financing the purchase of securities see also regulation t

b

: a deposit made with a broker by a client who is trading in futures