Marginal vs. Fair — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 17, 2024
Marginal describes something barely adequate or of low quality, whereas fair suggests something that is moderately good or acceptable.
Difference Between Marginal and Fair
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Marginal often refers to conditions or qualities that barely meet a minimal standard, indicating a position at the lower end of a scale or spectrum. In contrast, fair typically denotes a more neutral, acceptable quality, positioned centrally in terms of value or performance.
In academic grading, a marginal performance implies a student is barely passing, suggesting a need for significant improvement. Fair, on the other hand, is usually indicative of satisfactory work that meets standard expectations without excelling.
When discussing opinions, marginal can signify a viewpoint that is barely supported or weakly justified, reflecting a fringe stance. Fair, however, suggests a balanced or reasonable perspective that is generally acceptable though not exceptional.
In economic terms, a marginal increase in productivity or revenue refers to a minimal or slight improvement, which might not significantly impact the overall situation. Conversely, a fair increase implies a moderate, noticeable improvement that positively affects the economic condition.
Regarding product quality, marginal denotes something that just meets the minimum requirements to be usable but is not preferred. Fair quality implies a level that is acceptable and generally meets the average consumer’s expectations.
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Comparison Chart
Quality
Barely adequate, low quality
Moderately good, acceptable
Connotation
Negative, minimal adequacy
Neutral, satisfactory
Common Usage
Academic grading, economic terms
Product quality, opinions
Implication in Progress
Minimal improvement
Moderate, noticeable improvement
General Perception
Close to failing
Centrally positioned
Compare with Definitions
Marginal
Describing something barely adequate.
His understanding of the topic was marginal at best.
Fair
Denoting moderate quality or condition.
The car is in fair condition, with some minor scratches.
Marginal
Relating to a minimal difference or change.
The company saw a marginal increase in profits this quarter.
Fair
Signifying a neutral or balanced viewpoint.
He gave a fair assessment of both arguments.
Marginal
Signifying a peripheral or border area.
The marginal lands around the river are prone to flooding.
Fair
Relating to equitable or just treatment.
She strives to be fair to all her students.
Marginal
Positioned at the lower end of a scale.
She was on the marginal end of passing the course.
Fair
Used to describe moderate weather conditions.
The forecast predicts fair weather throughout the week.
Marginal
Indicating limited support or approval.
Their proposal received only marginal support.
Fair
Indicative of satisfactory or acceptable performance.
His performance was considered fair, meeting the required standards.
Marginal
Of, relating to, located at, or constituting a margin, a border, or an edge
The marginal strip of beach.
A marginal issue that had no bearing on the election results.
Fair
A fair (archaic: faire or fayre) is a gathering of people for a variety of entertainment or commercial activities. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary with scheduled times lasting from an afternoon to several weeks.
Marginal
Being adjacent geographically
States marginal to Canada.
Fair
Treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination
The group has achieved fair and equal representation for all its members
A fairer distribution of wealth
Marginal
Written or printed in the margin of a book
Marginal notes.
Fair
(of hair or complexion) light; blonde
A pretty girl with long fair hair
Marginal
Barely within a lower standard or limit of quality
Marginal writing ability.
Eked out a marginal existence.
Fair
Considerable though not outstanding in size or amount
He did a fair bit of coaching
Marginal
Having to do with enterprises that produce goods or are capable of producing goods at a rate that barely covers production costs.
Fair
(of weather) fine and dry
A fair autumn day
Marginal
Relating to commodities thus manufactured and sold.
Fair
Beautiful
The fairest of her daughters
Marginal
(Psychology) Relating to or located at the fringe of consciousness.
Fair
Without cheating or trying to achieve unjust advantage
No one could say he played fair
Marginal
One that is considered to be at a lower or outer limit, as of social acceptability
"is fascinated by marginals, by people who live on the edge of society" (Dan Yakir).
Fair
To a high degree
She'll be fair delighted to see you
Marginal
(uncomparable) Of, relating to, or located at or near a margin or edge; also figurative usages of location and margin (edge).
The marginal area at the edge of the salt-marsh has its own plants.
In recent years there has been an increase in violence against marginal groups.
Fair
A beautiful woman
Pursuing his fair in a solitary street
Marginal
Written in the margin of a book.
There were more marginal notes than text.
Fair
A gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment
I won a goldfish at the fair
Marginal
(geography) Sharing a border; geographically adjacent.
Monmouthshire is a Welsh county marginal to England.
Fair
A periodic gathering for the sale of goods.
Marginal
(comparable) Determined by a small margin; having a salient characteristic determined by a small margin.
Fair
(of the weather) become fine
Looks like it's fairing off some
Marginal
Of a value, or having a characteristic that is of a value, that is close to being unacceptable or leading to exclusion from a group or category.
His writing ability was marginal at best.
Having reviewed the test, there are two students below the required standard and three more who are marginal.
The pilots lacked experience flying in marginal weather conditions.
Fair
Streamline (a vehicle, boat, or aircraft) by adding fairings
It is fully faired and race ready
Marginal
(of land) Barely productive.
He farmed his marginal land with difficulty.
Fair
Of pleasing appearance, especially because of a pure or fresh quality; comely.
Marginal
Subject to a change in sitting member with only a small change in voting behaviour, this usually being inferred from the small winning margin of the previous election.
In Bristol West, Labour had a majority of only 1,000, so the seat is considered highly marginal this time around.
Fair
Light in color, especially blond
Fair hair.
Marginal
Pertaining to changes resulting from a unit increase in production or consumption of a good.
Fair
Of light complexion
Fair skin.
Marginal
Something or somebody that is marginal.
Fair
Free of clouds or storms; clear and sunny
Fair skies.
Marginal
(politics) A constituency won with a small margin.
Fair
Free of blemishes or stains; clean and pure
One's fair name.
Marginal
Of or pertaining to a margin.
Fair
Promising; likely
We're in a fair way to succeed.
Marginal
Written or printed in the margin; as, a marginal note or gloss.
Fair
Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism or bias; impartial
A fair mediator.
Marginal
At the lower limit; barely sufficient; as, of marginal utility.
Fair
Just to all parties; equitable
A compromise that is fair to both factions.
Marginal
At or constituting a border or edge;
The marginal strip of beach
Fair
Being in accordance with relative merit or significance
She wanted to receive her fair share of the proceeds.
Marginal
Of questionable or minimal quality;
Borderline grades
Marginal writing ability
Fair
Consistent with rules, logic, or ethics
A fair tactic.
Marginal
Of a bare living gained by great labor;
The sharecropper's hardscrabble life
A marginal existence
Fair
Moderately good; acceptable or satisfactory
Gave only a fair performance of the play.
In fair health.
Marginal
Just barely adequate or within a lower limit;
A bare majority
A marginal victory
Fair
Superficially true or appealing; specious
Don't trust his fair promises.
Marginal
Producing at a rate that barely covers production costs;
Marginal industries
Marginal land
Fair
Lawful to hunt or attack
Fair game.
Marginal
Of something or someone close to a lower limit or lower class;
Marginal abilities
Fair
(Archaic) Free of all obstacles.
Fair
In a proper or legal manner
Playing fair.
Fair
Directly; straight
A blow caught fair in the stomach.
Fair
To join (pieces) so as to be smooth, even, or regular
Faired the aircraft's wing into the fuselage.
Fair
(Archaic) A beautiful or beloved woman.
Fair
(Obsolete) Loveliness; beauty.
Fair
A gathering for the buying and selling of goods, often held at a particular time and place; a market
We attended the annual book fair.
Fair
An exhibition of home or farm products and skills, usually with competitions and entertainments
My pumpkin won first prize at the county fair.
Fair
An exhibition intended to inform people about a product or business opportunity
A computer fair.
A job fair.
Fair
An event, usually for the benefit of a charity or public institution, including entertainment and the sale of goods; a bazaar
A church fair.
Fair
Beautiful, of a pleasing appearance, with a pure and fresh quality.
Monday's child is fair of face.
There was once a knight who wooed a fair young maid.
Fair
Unblemished (figuratively or literally); clean and pure; innocent.
One's fair name
After scratching out and replacing various words in the manuscript, he scribed a fair copy to send to the publisher.
Fair
Light in color, pale, particularly with regard to skin tone but also referring to blond hair.
She had fair hair and blue eyes.
Fair
Just, equitable.
He must be given a fair trial.
Fair
Adequate, reasonable, or decent, but not excellent.
Their performance has been only fair.
The patient was in a fair condition after some treatment.
Fair
Favorable to a ship's course.
Fair
Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.
A fair sky;
A fair day
Fair
Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unencumbered; open; direct; said of a road, passage, etc.
A fair mark;
In fair sight;
A fair view
Fair
(shipbuilding) Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; flowing; said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines.
Fair
(baseball) Between the baselines.
Fair
Taken direct from an opponent's foot, without the ball touching the ground or another player.
Fair
Not a no ball.
Fair
(statistics) Of a coin or die, having equal chance of landing on any side, unbiased.
Fair
Something which is fair (in various senses of the adjective).
When will we learn to distinguish between the fair and the foul?
Fair
(obsolete) Fairness, beauty.
Fair
A fair woman; a sweetheart.
Fair
(obsolete) Good fortune; good luck.
Fair
A community gathering to celebrate and exhibit local achievements.
Fair
An event for public entertainment and trade, a market.
Fair
An event for professionals in a trade to learn of new products and do business, a trade fair.
Fair
A travelling amusement park (called a funfair in British English and a (travelling) carnival in US English).
Fair
(transitive) To smoothen or even a surface (especially a connection or junction on a surface).
Fair
(transitive) To bring into perfect alignment (especially about rivet holes when connecting structural members).
Fair
To make an animation smooth, removing any jerkiness.
Fair
(transitive) To construct or design with the aim of producing a smooth outline or reducing air drag or water resistance.
Fair
To make fair or beautiful.
Fair
Clearly, openly, frankly, civilly, honestly, favorably, auspiciously, agreeably
Fair
Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure.
A fair white linen cloth.
Fair
Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful.
Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made.
Fair
Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin.
The northern people large and fair-complexioned.
Fair
Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; favorable; - said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.; as, a fair sky; a fair day.
You wish fair winds may waft him over.
Fair
Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unincumbered; open; direct; - said of a road, passage, etc.; as, a fair mark; in fair sight; a fair view.
The caliphs obtained a mighty empire, which was in a fair way to have enlarged.
Fair
Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; flowing; - said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines.
Fair
Characterized by frankness, honesty, impartiality, or candor; open; upright; free from suspicion or bias; equitable; just; - said of persons, character, or conduct; as, a fair man; fair dealing; a fair statement.
Fair
Pleasing; favorable; inspiring hope and confidence; - said of words, promises, etc.
When fair words and good counsel will not prevail on us, we must be frighted into our duty.
Fair
Distinct; legible; as, fair handwriting.
Fair
Free from any marked characteristic; average; middling; as, a fair specimen.
The news is very fair and good, my lord.
Fair
Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably.
Fair
Fairness, beauty.
Fair
A fair woman; a sweetheart.
I have found out a gift for my fair.
Fair
Good fortune; good luck.
Now fair befall thee !
Fair
A gathering of buyers and sellers, assembled at a particular place with their merchandise at a stated or regular season, or by special appointment, for trade.
Fair
A festival, and sale of fancy articles. erc., usually for some charitable object; as, a Grand Army fair; a church fair.
Fair
A competitive exhibition of wares, farm products, etc., not primarily for purposes of sale; as, the Mechanics' fair; an agricultural fair.
Fair
An exhibition by a number of organizations, including governmental organizations, for the purpose of acquainting people with such organizations or their members, not primarily for commercial purposes; as, the 1939 World's Fair.
Meet me in St. Louis, LouisMeet me at the fairDon't tell me the lights are shiningAnyplace but there.
Fair
To make fair or beautiful.
Fairing the foul.
Fair
To make smooth and flowing, as a vessel's lines.
Fair
A traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc.
Fair
Gathering of producers to promote business;
World fair
Trade fair
Book fair
Fair
A competitive exhibition of farm products;
She won a blue ribbon for her baking at the county fair
Fair
A sale of miscellany; often for charity;
The church bazaar
Fair
Join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly
Fair
Free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; or conforming with established standards or rules;
A fair referee
Fair deal
On a fair footing
A fair fight
By fair means or foul
Fair
Showing lack of favoritism;
The cold neutrality of an impartial judge
Fair
More than adequate in quality;
Fair work
Fair
Not excessive or extreme;
A fairish income
Reasonable prices
Fair
Visually appealing;
Our fair city
Fair
Very pleasing to the eye;
My bonny lass
There's a bonny bay beyond
A comely face
Young fair maidens
Fair
(of a baseball) hit between the foul lines;
He hit a fair ball over the third base bag
Fair
Of no exceptional quality or ability;
A novel of average merit
Only a fair performance of the sonata
In fair health
The caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average
The performance was middling at best
Fair
(of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections;
Fair copy
A clean manuscript
Fair
Free of clouds or rain;
Today will be fair and warm
Fair
(used of hair or skin) pale or light-colored;
A fair complexion
Fair
In conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating;
They played fairly
Fair
In a fair evenhanded manner;
Deal fairly with one another
Common Curiosities
What does marginal mean in a business context?
In business, marginal refers to minimal or slight changes in productivity or profit.
Can something be both marginal and fair?
Typically, marginal and fair are used to describe different levels of adequacy, with marginal being lower than fair.
How is fair used in legal contexts?
Fair is often used in legal contexts to describe actions that are just, equitable, and free from bias.
What does marginal mean in statistics?
In statistics, marginal refers to the addition or change in probability due to a single variable.
What is considered fair weather?
Fair weather is generally pleasant with clear skies and moderate temperatures.
What is a fair trade product?
A fair trade product is one that has been certified to meet certain ethical standards of production.
How do marginal costs affect business decisions?
Marginal costs are crucial in determining the feasibility of increasing production.
What are examples of marginal performance?
Marginal performance might involve barely passing grades or minimal job competence.
How does a fair trial differ from an ordinary trial?
A fair trial is specifically focused on upholding principles of justice, ensuring all parties receive equal treatment.
Is fair always a positive term?
Fair is generally positive but can be neutral, indicating just adequacy.
What is a marginal tax rate?
The marginal tax rate is the rate at which an additional dollar of income is taxed.
What is a fair price for goods?
A fair price is one that is considered reasonable based on the quality and market conditions.
How can one improve from marginal to fair performance?
Improvement involves enhancing skills or knowledge to meet and exceed minimal standards.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
