i don't know the exact answer.from my view it is the external thing that is added to the input which does not cause any undesirable changes at the output........
In digital logic, signal presence is marked as 5v dc ( or logic "1").
Same way no signal is marked as zero voltage ( or logic "0"). All logic
circuits accepts logic 1 if voltage >3.5v DC. logic zero if voltage
<2.5vDc. so voltage level between 2.5 to 3.5 is called noise margin.
In this region ,we can't say signal is logic 1 or 0. Here voltage level
< 2.5v and > 3.5v is explanation only not exactly correct, you
refer your data sheet of particular IC.