marginalize
verb
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Marginalized Writing vs. Marginalized People
Marginalize provides a striking case of how thoroughly the figurative use of a word can take over the literal one. The original (and now obsolete) meaning of this word, “to write notes in the margin of,” is analogous to the still-familiar noun marginalia, “marginal notes or embellishments." A margin is, of course, the blank space surrounding the text in a book. Just prior to 1970, marginalize took on the sense that is most commonly encountered today, “to relegate to an unimportant or powerless position” (that is, to the metaphorical margins of society). This use of the verb can be found as far back as 1968; an article in The Los Angeles Times from June 20th of that year reports, “[T]he Negro was kept aside, marginalized, thus composing in its large majority the chronically poor.” In its newer sense, marginalize has assumed a much more prominent place in the vocabulary than it once had.
Examples of marginalize in a Sentence
Alyssa Kreikemeier, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025
Critics say that Indigenous communities are too often evicted, marginalized, or abused in the name of environmental protection.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
Critics argue that the administration’s actions reflect a broader ideological campaign to undermine academic autonomy, citing parallels to efforts to restrict diversity initiatives and redefine human rights protections in ways that marginalize social and economic equity programs[7][6].
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
This really resonated with me, especially when thinking about the unique systemic barriers, mental health matters and challenges marginalized individuals face.
—Antoine Andrews, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for marginalize
Cite this Entry
“Marginalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marginalize. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
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marginalize
verb
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