Marginalize: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'marginalize' when someone is being treated as if they are not important or have less power compared to others.

• In the company, women often feel marginalized because they are rarely given leadership roles

Use 'exclude' when someone or something is being left out or not included in a group or activity.

• They decided to exclude him from the meeting because he was not prepared

Use 'ostracize' when someone is being intentionally avoided or rejected by a group, often with negative intent.

• After the scandal, the community began to ostracize her, and she had to move to a different city

Use 'disenfranchise' when someone is being deprived of their rights or privileges, especially the right to vote.

• New laws might disenfranchise many voters by making it harder for them to register

This word is commonly used in social, political, and organizational contexts to describe the process of making a person or group less important or peripheral.

• Women often feel marginalized in a male-dominated workplace

This word is generally used to describe the act of keeping someone or something apart from others. It can be used in both physical and social contexts.

• The patient was isolated to prevent the spread of infection

Same as 'marginalize,' but used in British English.

• Indigenous languages are often marginalised by dominant cultures

This phrase is used informally to describe the act of excluding someone from receiving attention or being part of important activities.

• She felt pushed to the sidelines in the planning of the event