marginalize

verb

mar·​gin·​al·​ize ˈmär-jə-nᵊl-ˌīz 

ˈmärj-nə-ˌlīz

marginalized; marginalizing

transitive verb

: to relegate (see relegate sense 2) to an unimportant or powerless position within a society or group

We are protesting policies that marginalize women.

marginalization

ˌmär-jə-nᵊl-ə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌmärj-nə-lə-

noun

Did you know?

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 marginalize in a Sentence

The program helps people from marginalized groups.

Recent Examples on the Web

And many great ideas after the leader speaks are minimized, marginalized, or outright ignored. —David Nour, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

While the caucus's members had planned to uphold a policy agenda for Black and marginalized people under a Kamala Harris administration, instead Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., said the CBC's role will be to hold President-elect Donald Trump and his congressional supporters accountable. —Curtis Bunn, NBC News, 25 Nov. 2024

On one hand, these were two programs far from national relevance, marginalized by realignment, playing a game on ACC Network that likely no one outside of their fans watched. —Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024

In addition to its military and political intimidation of the island, Beijing attempts to marginalize Taiwan’s standing on the world stage and erode its coverage within international legal structures. —Kyle Balzer, Foreign Affairs, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

marginalize

verb

mar·​gin·​al·​ize ˈmärj-nəl-ˌīz 

-ən-ᵊl-

marginalized; marginalizing

: to remove to or keep in a position without influence in a society or group

marginalization

ˌmärj-nəl-ə-ˈzā-shən 

-ən-ᵊl-

noun