marginalize
MAR-jin-uh-lize
/ˈmɑːrdʒɪnəlaɪz/
To treat a person, group, or concept as insignificant or peripheral.
To push someone to the 'margins' or edges of society where they have less power and visibility.
The story behind the word. The word 'marginalize' comes from the Latin 'margo', meaning 'edge.' It was originally used to describe the white space around the text on a page—the margin. To marginalize a person is to treat them like that empty white space: they are on the page, but they aren't part of the main story.
Word relationships
- sideline: Sideline is often used in sports or business; marginalize is more common in sociology and politics.
- disempower: Disempower means to take away power; marginalizing is the process that leads to that state.
- empower: To empower is to give someone the authority or power to do something.
- integrate: To integrate is to bring someone into the center or main part of a group.
Commonly confused with
- marginal: 'Marginal' refers to something of secondary importance; 'marginalize' is the active process of making someone feel that way.
Word family
- marginalization (noun): The process of treating a group as peripheral.
Collocations
- marginalized groups
- systematically marginalized
- socially marginalized
Idioms & expressions
- push to the sidelines
- leave out in the cold
Example sentences
- "By failing to provide resources in multiple languages, the government continues to marginalize immigrant communities." Discussing social justice.
- "For decades, the contributions of female scientists were marginalized in history books, often credited to their male colleagues." Reflecting on history.
Memory hook
To 'marginalize' is to push someone into the 'margins' of the notebook. Push to the edge.
When not to use
Do not use for physical movement; use 'push aside' or 'displace' instead.
Fun facts
- The 'margin' of a book was often where medieval monks would doodle monsters and jokes, literally putting the 'deviant' stuff on the edges.
Explore more words
marginalization, marginalized, stigmatize, Ostracism, underprivileged, disenfranchise
Also appears in
- Relationships → Inclusivity & Belonging
- Relationships → Exclusion & Ostracism
- Demographics & Urban Studies → Migration & Displacement
- Demographics & Urban Studies → Segregation & Redlining
- Education & Pedagogy → Educational Inequality
- Philosophy → Feminist Philosophy
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Social Stratification & Hierarchy
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Caste Systems & Untouchability
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Elite Theory & Power Structures
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