Margin
'mɑːrdʒɪn
Definitions
4 meaningsThe blank space around the text on a page or the edge of something.
'mɑːrdʒɪn
The edge or border of something.
The teacher asked the students to leave a one-inch margin on their papers.
💡 Simply: Imagine your paper has a frame around the words. That frame, or the space around the words, is the margin! It helps the words look nice and neat.
👶 For kids: The space around the edge of the paper that you don't write on.
More Examples
The artist used the margins of the canvas to sketch preliminary designs.
How It's Used
"The printer adjusted the margins of the document."
"The ship sailed along the coastline's margin."
An amount of something, such as a difference.
'mɑːrdʒɪn
An amount of something, especially a difference between two numbers or amounts, calculated as the difference between a selling price and the cost of the item.
The sales team increased their profit margin by implementing new strategies.
💡 Simply: Imagine you sell lemonade. The difference between how much you sell the lemonade for and how much the ingredients cost is your margin – your profit!
👶 For kids: How much extra you have. Like, if you have a bit more candy than your friend, that's your margin.
More Examples
The election was decided by a small margin.
The company operates on a thin profit margin.
How It's Used
"The company's profit margin was significantly higher this quarter."
"The team won by a narrow margin of two points."
To supply with a margin or border.
'mɑːrdʒɪn
To provide with a margin or border.
The artist marginated the canvas to create a frame for the artwork.
💡 Simply: If you add a border around a picture, you marginate it, giving it a margin.
👶 For kids: To put a space around something.
More Examples
The editor decided to marginate the text to improve readability.
How It's Used
"The graphic designer marginated the image with a white border."
An allowance for possible error or delay.
'mɑːrdʒɪn
An amount of extra time or money that is allowed.
The company provided a margin of error to cover any unforeseen costs.
💡 Simply: It's like giving yourself a little extra time or money, just in case something goes wrong. A little cushion for unexpected things!
👶 For kids: A little bit of extra time or money, just in case you need it.
More Examples
He allowed a margin for negotiation in his pricing.
You need to consider a margin for late arrivals.
How It's Used
"The investor requested a margin account."
"We built in a margin of error for the project's completion date."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
by a wide margin
By a large amount or difference.
"The candidate won the election by a wide margin."
by a narrow margin
By a small amount or difference.
"The team barely won the game, winning by a narrow margin."
margin call
A demand by a broker that an investor deposit additional money or securities to cover losses.
"The investor received a margin call after the market declined."
From Middle English *margyn*, from Old French *marge* ('edge, border'), from Latin *margō* ('border, edge, margin').
The word has been used since the 14th century and originally referred to the blank space of a page.
Memory tip
Think of the blank space *around* the text on a page.
Word Origin
"border, edge"