margin

Everyday

1. A margin is the empty space at the edge of a page, often with a line, where you do not write. tree →
2. The amount by which one thing is more than another, like in a race or vote: «won by a narrow margin». tree →
3. An extra amount allowed for safety or mistakes: «a margin of error». tree →
4. (business) Profit: the difference between what something costs and what it sells for. tree →
5. A margin can also be the edge of something, such as the edge of the sea. tree →

In the lessons

Used in school (write inside the margin; teachers write comments in the margin), sport (winning margin), maths (margin of error), money (profit margin). Phrases: «in the margin», «by a wide margin», «margin for error».

Examples

• Write the date in the margin. tree →
• The teacher wrote «Well done!» in the margin. tree →
• Our team won by a margin of three goals. tree →
• Leave a margin of safety when you cross the road. tree →
• The scientist gave a margin of error of two centimetres. tree →
• The shop's profit margin on sweets is small. tree →
• She continued her walk along by the margin of the sea. tree →

Note

Countable. Adjective: marginal (small, at the edge). Maths: the winning margin = winner's score − loser's score; 45 − 38 = a margin of 7.