marginalized
adjective
Tamar MayerSusan M. Squier
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Marginalized Writing vs. Marginalized People
Marginalize provides a striking case of how thoroughly the figurative use of a word can take over the literal one. The original (and now obsolete) meaning of this word, “to write notes in the margin of,” is analogous to the still-familiar noun marginalia, “marginal notes or embellishments." A margin is, of course, the blank space surrounding the text in a book. Just prior to 1970, marginalize took on the sense that is most commonly encountered today, “to relegate to an unimportant or powerless position” (that is, to the metaphorical margins of society). This use of the verb can be found as far back as 1968; an article in The Los Angeles Times from June 20th of that year reports, “[T]he Negro was kept aside, marginalized, thus composing in its large majority the chronically poor.” In its newer sense, marginalize has assumed a much more prominent place in the vocabulary than it once had.
Examples of marginalized in a Sentence
Jacob Pramuk, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2025
With climate change, urbanization, and inequality disproportionately impacting marginalized groups, the call is for inclusive, digitally enabled solutions— and for a major focus in the lead-up to the International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026.
—Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Although marginalized groups endure everyday discrimination most often, our study indicates that this is a widespread issue affecting people of all races and backgrounds.
—Monica Wang, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025
Amplifying the voices of marginalized groups Cherin said the group chooses material and productions with advocacy in mind to amplify the voices of marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ community members.
—Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for marginalized
Cite this Entry
“Marginalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marginalized. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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