margin
This word evokes a sense of boundaries and safety buffers. It describes the edge of a territory or the gap between success and failure. When used in a professional or financial sense, it suggests a protective layer that absorbs shocks or provides a cushion against risk. In a social or political context, the term often shifts toward the periphery. Being on the margins implies a state of exclusion or lack of power, positioning a person or group outside the center of influence or mainstream society.
Countable when referring to the physical edges of a page or specific numerical gaps in a race. Uncountable when referring to the general concept of a safety buffer or available excess.
Meanings
The blank space surrounding the text on a page.
"Please write your comments in the left margin."
The amount by which one thing is better or more than another.
"The candidate won the election by a narrow margin."
An amount of something that is extra or available for use to prevent failure.
"We have a small margin of error in these calculations."
The difference between the cost of producing something and its selling price.
"The company is struggling with low profit margins."