marginally

marginally — adverb

1. to a very small degree, often so small that the change or difference is barely n

1.adverbB2
Definition

to a very small degree, often so small that the change or difference is barely noticeable or is at the very edge of what can be measured.

Example

The new smartphone model is marginally faster than last year's version.

marginally + comparative adjective

Faisal's score on the final exam was marginally higher than his midterm result.

Common collocations
  • marginally better
  • marginally higher
  • marginally lower
  • marginally faster
  • marginally improved
  • marginally more/less expensive
Synonyms
  • slightly

    more neutral in register and far more common in everyday speech

  • somewhat

    vaguer and often used to hedge or soften a statement; similar register to 'marginally'

  • a little

    informal; less precise and rarely used in formal written analysis

Antonyms
  • significantly

    opposite end of the degree scale — implies a large or meaningful amount

  • substantially

    opposite end; suggests a considerable, noticeable difference

Grammar Patterns

marginally + comparative adjective

marginally + past participle

verb + marginally

marginally + prepositional phrase

Usage Note

Commonly modifies comparative adjectives (e.g. better, cheaper, faster) and past participles (e.g. improved, reduced). More formal than the near-synonym 'slightly'; best suited for written reports, evaluations, and data analysis rather than casual conversation.

Common Mistakes

The price is marginal better.
The price is marginally better.
the adverb 'marginally' is needed to modify the adjective 'better', not the adjective 'marginal'.
Sales marginal increased.
Sales increased marginally.
'marginally' must come before the adjective or after the verb it modifies; it cannot replace the adjective form.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words express a small degree or amount, but they differ in register and precision. 'Slightly' is the most neutral and versatile — 'The door was slightly open' works in any context. 'Marginally' is more formal and implies a difference so tiny it sits at the very edge of measurement — 'Profits rose marginally' suggests a bare, almost borderline increase. 'Somewhat' is vaguer and often hedges a claim — 'I am somewhat tired' avoids fully admitting it. 'A little' is informal and everyday — 'Can you speak a little louder?' would sound odd in a formal report. Of the four, 'marginally' appears least in conversation and most in written evaluations, business reports, and scientific comparisons.

marginally ↗slightly ↗somewhat ↗a little

Common collocations

Phrases

  • marginally + comparative adjective
  • marginally + past participle
  • verb + marginally

Prepositions

  • marginally above
  • marginally below
  • marginally over

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from the noun 'margin' (the edge or border of something) plus the adverbial suffix '-ally'. The word 'margin' traces back through French 'marge' to Latin 'margo' meaning 'edge'. Over time, 'marginal' shifted from 'at the edge' to 'barely within the limit', and 'marginally' came to mean 'by an amount at the very edge of being noticeable'.