marginal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Though he had found the case to be on solid ground, he now told the judge in a brief that it was marginal compared with other excessive-force prosecutions and that the woman’s injuries were minor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

The energy regulator, Ofgem, uses gas as "the marginal source of power", which sets prices for wholesale electricity in the UK.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

Lower-income consumers, however, have a higher marginal propensity to spend.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

Of course, coaching analytically-minded players familiar with the law of diminishing marginal returns presents hurdles, McGrath says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Muralug Island itself, the island nearest Australia, was dry, marginal for agriculture, and supported only a small human population, which subsisted mainly on seafood, wild yams, and mangrove fruits.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond