marginalize

especially British, mar·gin·al·ise

[mahr-juh-nl-ahyz]

verb (used with object)

marginalized, marginalizing 

1. to place in a position of minor or marginal importance, significance, relevance, or effect.

   The government is attempting to marginalize criticism and restore public confidence.

2. to isolate or exclude from the dominant culture; perceive or treat as being on the fringes of a society or group.

   All of these policies have marginalized our vulnerable sisters and brothers for their religion, skin color, or sexual orientation.

marginalize

/ ˈmɑːdʒɪnəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to relegate to the fringes, out of the mainstream; make seem unimportant

   various economic assumptions marginalize women

Other Word Forms

• marginalization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of marginalize¹

First recorded in 1825–35 for an earlier sense; marginal + -ize

Example Sentences

For example, the lynching of Black slaves and later Black Americans was one way that American leaders showed marginalized groups what they might expect if they spoke out.

From Salon

Yet Republicans have doubled down on expanding access to weapons while spending enormous political capital vilifying marginalized groups.

From Salon

And these are only the most recent developments in a years-long push to erase the historical accounts of and literature by and about marginalized people.

From Salon

It historically has ended up on the doorstep of marginalized communities, she added.

From Los Angeles Times

“I do not think it is an accident that the mayors he’s gone after have been Black women, because another trait of authoritarianism is demonizing communities that have a history of being marginalized,” Via said.

From Salon

Related Words

• deprecate 
• diminish 
• disparage 
• downplay