margin

/ˈmɑː.d͡ʒɪn/

//ˈmɑː.d͡ʒɪn// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"margin" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“margin” has 9 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #4,537. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#4,537
frequency rank, English
4,057
“M” headwords
9
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The edge of the paper, typically left blank when printing but sometimes used for annotations etc.

Corpus desk

Index EN-margin · margin · English

margin · rank #4,537 · 9 variants · 20 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #4,537
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-HIGH 20 pairs
  • VAR-MID 9 variants
  • BOOK-MID 4,057
  • PHOTO-FINISH Isis

Nearest frequency peer: Isis (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “margin”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “margin” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

margin vs Mari
50% similar
margin vs Maria
50% similar
margin vs Mario
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for margin
PropertyValue
Headwordmargin
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmɑː.d͡ʒɪn/
Letters6
Frequency rank#4,537
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “margin”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).marginlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “Isis” (#4,536), “mars” (#4,538), “investments” (#4,535). Among 4,057 “M” headwords, “margin” is #4,537. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 9 spelling variants around margin (IPA /ˈmɑː.d͡ʒɪn/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #4,537 among 4,057 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 9 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for margin, with forms such as "amrgin", "magrin", and "marggin". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "Mari", "Maria", "Mario", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English margyn, from Latin marginem (possibly via Old French margin), accusative of margō (“edge, brink, border, margin”). Doublet of marge and margo. The correct English form is margin, spelled M-A-R-G-I-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The edge of the paper, typically left blank when printing but sometimes used for annotations etc.
  2. 2
    The edge or border of any flat surface.
  3. 3
    The edge defining inclusion in or exclusion from a set or group.
  4. 4
    A difference or ratio between results, characteristics, scores.
  5. 5
    A permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits.
  6. 6
    The yield or profit; the selling price minus the cost of production.
  7. 7
    Collateral security deposited with a broker, to compensate the broker in the event of loss in the speculative buying and selling of stocks, commodities, etc.
  8. 8
    That which is ancillary; periphery.
  9. 9
    The shape of the edge of a leaf.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how margin appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Nothing could be more business-like than the construction of the stout dams, and nothing more gently rural than the limpid lakes, with the grand old forest trees marshalled round their margins like a veteran army that had marched down to drink, only to be stricken motionless at the water’s edge.
  2. The lobule margins, furthermore, are arched away from the lobe, with the consequence that (when fully inflated) the abaxial leaf surface forms the interior lining of the lobule.

Etymology

From Middle English margyn, from Latin marginem (possibly via Old French margin), accusative of margō (“edge, brink, border, margin”). Doublet of marge and margo.

This word in other languages

margen(Español)marge(Français)Seitenrand(Deutsch)margem(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • amrgin
  • magrin
  • marggin
  • marginn
  • margni
  • marign
  • marrgin
  • mmargin
  • mragin

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of margin - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

amrgin2magrin2marggin1marginn1margni2marign2marrgin1mmargin1
Edit distance from "margin"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "margin"?
"margin" is spelled M-A-R-G-I-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmɑː.d͡ʒɪn/.
What does "margin" mean?
As a noun, "margin" means: The edge of the paper, typically left blank when printing but sometimes used for annotations etc.
What words are commonly confused with "margin"?
"margin" is commonly confused with "Mari", "Maria", "Mario". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "margin"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "margin" is /ˈmɑː.d͡ʒɪn/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "margin"?
From Middle English margyn, from Latin marginem (possibly via Old French margin), accusative of margō (“edge, brink, border, margin”). Doublet of marge and margo. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "margin", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Murray#4,542firing#4,526stroke#4,555copper#4,515

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (9 here; floor ≥5).

topics9 variantstrains9 variantsAlabama9 variantsangels9 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list