What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
marginal
Example
The company's profits were only marginal this quarter. [marginal: adjective]
Example
The author's work was considered marginal in the literary world. [marginal: adjective]
Example
The marginalized community fought for their rights and recognition. [marginalized: verb]
fringe
Example
The artist's work was on the fringe of the contemporary art scene. [fringe: noun]
Example
The political party had a fringe ideology that was not widely accepted. [fringe: adjective]
Example
The group's actions were seen as fringe and dangerous by the authorities. [fringe: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Marginal is more commonly used than fringe in academic or technical contexts, while fringe is more commonly used in social or cultural contexts. Both words are less common in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between marginal and fringe?
Marginal is more formal than fringe due to its association with academic or technical contexts. However, both words can be used in formal or informal contexts depending on the situation.
