WordValemargin
an amount allowed beyond what is needed
the difference between cost and selling price
In more detail
1. (noun) the space along the edge of a page or paper
2. (noun) the difference between the cost of something and the price it is sold for
3. (noun) a small amount of space, time, or resources beyond what is needed
4. (noun) the edge or border of an area or surface
Examples
- 1. Write your name in the margin at the top of the document.
- 2. The store makes a profit margin of 30% on each sale.
- 3. The team won by a margin of five points.
How to use margin
Margin is a versatile noun used across contexts: in publishing and document formatting for the spaces around text; in business and economics for the profit difference between cost and selling price; and more generally for any small surplus or boundary. Each sense carries slightly different connotations but shares the idea of an edge or buffer zone.
Common phrases
- profit margin
- safety margin
- by a narrow margin
- margin of error
- left margin
Synonyms
border · edge · boundary · gap · profit
Word family
marginal · marginally · marginalize · marginalization
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 'margin' with 'marginal'—the adjective refers to something minor or relating to margins, not the margin itself.
Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.
Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD