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 marginal this quarter. [marginal: adjective]
Example
The author only made a marginal contribution to the field of study. [marginal: adjective]
Example
The marginalized communities are often overlooked by policymakers. [marginalized: verb]
peripheral
Example
The hospital is located in a peripheral area of the city. [peripheral: adjective]
Example
The professor discussed some peripheral aspects of the topic. [peripheral: adjective]
Example
I need to buy a new peripheral for my computer. [peripheral: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Peripheral is more commonly used than marginal in everyday language. Peripheral is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while marginal is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between marginal and peripheral?
Both marginal and peripheral are relatively formal words, but peripheral is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
