Definition of marginal

The word "marginal" has its roots in the medieval Latin word "marginalis," meaning "of the margin" or "belonging to the edge." In the context of bookbinding, "marginalia" referred to notes, annotations, or illustrations that were added to the margin or outer edge of a manuscript or printed text. Eventually, the term "marginal" came to describe anything that occupies a peripheral or minor role, something that is not necessarily essential or core to a subject or discipline. In economics, the term is used to describe a group of expenses or income sources that are peripheral or secondary to the main economic activity, and often their inclusion or exclusion in the analysis does not significantly alter the conclusions drawn. Thus, in the understated and technical world of economic analysis, a marginally lower income or moderately lower price can have significant financial and economic implications. However, within the larger context of a particular context or analysis, such factors may be considered marginal or of secondary importance. Therefore, within the broader framework of economics, marginal factors - though not insignificant - are often considered non-core or ancillary. In summary, the origin of the word "marginal" is deeply rooted in the origins of bookbinding, where it referred to anything occurring at the margin or edge of a text, later transforming into a term to describe any secondary or peripheral phenomenon in various disciplines, including economics.