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” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,537 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#4,537
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The edge of the paper, typically left blank when printing but sometimes used for annotations etc.

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)

Where “margin” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). margin lands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for margin is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈmɑː.d͡ʒɪn/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,537 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

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.

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.

Using “margin”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is M-A-R-G-I-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmɑː.d͡ʒɪn/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Mari” - see the side-by-side comparison. margin vs Mari
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list