What does marge mean?
Marge is an informal word with two distinct uses. Its principal meaning is a variant of margin: the border or space at the edge of a page, and, by extension, a margin or allowance in betting or another calculation. In this sense it is especially associated with North American speech and is more conversational than the standard word margin. Marge can also be an affectionate, regional term for mother, particularly in British and Australian usage, comparable to Mum. The two meanings belong to separate registers: the first describes a physical or numerical boundary, while the second names a parent. Although margin is the more usual word for a page border, marge has a compact, familiar quality that can make it useful in casual speech. The word is worth knowing because it preserves both an informal synonym for margin and a warm family form of address.
nounAn informal variant of margin, especially the blank space at the edge of a page or the margin in betting. In British and Australian informal speech, it can also mean mother.
- An informal word for a margin, especially the blank border of a page or the margin in betting.
- An informal British and Australian term for mother or Mum.
"She added a brief note in the narrow marge beside the passage."
"The publisher placed the illustrations in the wide marge alongside the text."
"I'll ring Marge tonight and tell her about the good news."
The regular plural is rarely needed because the word is informal and is usually used in the singular for a page border or betting margin.
"The designer left generous marges around the text."
One word can be both a page border and an affectionate British name for Mum: Marge.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does marge come from?
The margin sense of marge comes through French marge from Latin margo, marginis, meaning an edge, border, or boundary. Marge is an English informal variant or shortened form of margin, while marginal and marginalia belong to the same wider Latin root. The separate sense meaning mother is an informal regional development whose precise historical origin is less certain.
How marge is actually used
Marge is informal. Its margin sense is especially associated with North American usage, where it is less common than the standard word margin. The affectionate sense meaning mother is associated particularly with British and Australian speech and may sound familiar, regional, or old-fashioned.
Easily confused with marge
Margin is the standard, widely used word for the border of a page or the space around printed material, whereas marge is its informal variant.