Definition

1. Noun:
   • A permissible difference; a limited amount or degree of freedom: An allowable amount of variation or leeway within set limits.
   • The blank space bordering the written or printed area on a page: The unprinted edge or border of a document.
   • (Finance) The difference between net sales revenue and the cost of goods sold: A measure of profitability, often expressed as a percentage.
   • (Finance) Collateral deposited with a broker to secure a loan for purchasing securities: The amount of equity an investor must provide when buying stocks on credit.
   • An amount or degree of difference beyond a minimum or required level: The extent by which one thing exceeds another, especially in competition.
   • The boundary or edge of something: The outer limit or border of an area or surface.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The contract allows a margin of error of 2%. (It permits a small, acceptable degree of mistake.)
  • Please write your comments in the margin of the report. (Write your notes in the blank space at the side of the page.)
  • The company's profit margin increased this quarter. (The difference between revenue and costs grew.)
  • The broker required a 50% margin to buy the stock. (The investor had to deposit 50% of the stock's value as collateral.)
  • She won the election by a narrow margin of 100 votes. (The difference in votes between her and the runner-up was very small.)
  • They built a fence along the margin of the property. (The fence was constructed at the boundary line of the land.)

Advanced Usage

• "To have a margin for error": To have a permissible amount of room for mistakes.

  • We built extra time into the schedule to have a margin for error.

• "Margin of safety": An extra buffer or amount beyond the minimum required to reduce risk.

  • Engineers design bridges with a significant margin of safety.

• "By a comfortable/wide margin": By a large or decisive amount.

  • The home team won the game by a comfortable margin.

Variants and Related Words

• Marginal (adj): Relating to or situated at a margin; very small or insignificant.
  • The difference in quality was marginal.
• Marginalize (verb): To treat a person or group as insignificant or peripheral.
  • Policies should not marginalize minority communities.

Synonyms

• Edge: The outside limit of an object, area, or surface.
• Border: The boundary or outer part of something.
• Leeway: The amount of freedom to move or act that is available.
• Surplus: An amount of something left over when requirements have been met.

Related Phrases

• "On the margins": At the outer limits; in a position of little importance or influence.

  • That theory exists on the margins of mainstream science.

• "Margin call": (Finance) A broker's demand for an investor to deposit additional money or securities to bring an account up to the minimum required value.

  • He had to sell assets quickly to meet the margin call.

Noun

1. a permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits
2. the blank space that surrounds the text on a page
   • he jotted a note in the margin
3. (finance) the net sales minus the cost of goods and services sold
4. the amount of collateral a customer deposits with a broker when borrowing from the broker to buy securities
5. an amount beyond the minimum necessary
   • the margin of victory
6. the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary