marginale

Marginale is an Italian adjective and noun form used to describe things related to or situated at the edge or border. Etymologically, it derives from the Latin marginalis, from margo meaning margin. In general usage it can refer to physical perimeters as well as figurative position outside the center of attention or influence.

In everyday language, phrases such as zona marginale or quartiere marginale describe outskirts or peripheral areas. In academic and professional contexts, marginale appears in technical terms like costo marginale (marginal cost), utilità marginale (marginal utility), and distribuzione marginale (marginal distribution). In sociology and political science, "gruppi marginali" denotes groups on the social margin, often involved in discussions of inequality or representation.

In literature and manuscript culture, marginal notes are described as note a margine or annotazioni a margine; while the adjective marginale can characterize such marginalia or other peripheral elements. In English-language scholarship, "marginal" is the closest direct equivalent, and related concepts include marginalization and marginalia.

Marginale is thus a versatile term across linguistics, economics, sociology, and philology, used to signal edge, extremity, or peripheral status depending on context.