borderline

¹bor·der·line

adjective \-ˌlīn\

Definition of BORDERLINE

1

a : being in an intermediate position or state : not fully classifiable as one thing or its opposite <a borderline state between waking and sleeping>

b : not quite up to, typical of, or as severe as what is usual, standard, or expected <borderline intelligence> <borderline hypertension>

c : characterized by psychological instability in several areas (as interpersonal relations, behavior, and identity) but only with brief or no psychotic episodes <a borderline personality disorder>

2

: situated at or near a border <a borderline town>

— borderline noun

Examples of BORDERLINE

1. In borderline cases like these, the best course of action is difficult to determine.
2. As a borderline diabetic, Lara is able to control her blood sugar levels solely through diet.

First Known Use of BORDERLINE

1907

Related to BORDERLINE

Synonyms

frontier, marginal

Antonyms

interior

Related Words

outermost, outmost; exterior, external, outer, outside, outward

Near Antonyms

inner, inside, internal, inward; inmost, innermost; central, mid, middle

Rhymes with BORDERLINE

aerodyne, agate line, alkaline, androgyne, anodyne, anticline, Apennine, aquiline, argentine, asinine, auld lang syne, Aventine, Ballantyne, balloon vine, battle line, bottom-line, Byzantine, calamine, calcimine, Caroline, catarrhine, Catiline, celandine, centerline, cisalpine, claymore mine, clementine, colubrine, columbine, Columbine, concubine, conga line, contour line, Coppermine, coralline, countermine, countersign, credit line, crystalline, cytokine, dessert wine, disincline, dollar sign, down-the-line, draw the line, eglantine, endocrine, equal sign, Esquiline, exocrine, fescennine, finish line, firing line, Florentine, gas turbine, genuine, gregarine, infantine, interline, intertwine, iodine, Johannine, knotty pine, leonine, Levantine, Liechtenstein, limber pine, lubber line, minus sign, monkeyshine, morning line, muscadine, on deadline, on the line, opaline, palatine, Palatine, Palestine, party line, passerine, picket line, porcupine, psittacine, realign, redefine, redesign, riverine, saccharine, sapphirine, saturnine, second-line, serpentine, service line, sibylline, Siegfried line, sixty-nine, sounding line, subalpine, sparkling wine, static line, steam turbine, story line, table wine, Theatine, three-point line, timberline, toe the line, transalpine, Tridentine, turnverein, turpentine, underline, undermine, Ursuline, uterine, valentine, vespertine, viperine, vulturine, waterline, wind turbine, worry line

²borderline

adverb

Definition of BORDERLINE

: almost, nearly <borderline tacky> <borderline suicidal>

Examples of BORDERLINE

1. The movie is only borderline funny.
2. <your answer was borderline rude, so I would advise you to be more diplomatic in the future>

First Known Use of BORDERLINE

1925

Related to BORDERLINE

Synonyms

about, all but, almost, fair [chiefly British], fairly, feckly [chiefly Scottish], more or less, most, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, somewhere, virtually, well-nigh

Related Words

appreciably, by and large, chiefly, largely, mainly, mostly; kind of, partially, partly, somewhat

Near Antonyms

absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb [chiefly dialect], quite, thoroughly; totally, utterly, well, wholly; barely, hardly, scarcely

bor·der·line

adjective \-ˌlīn\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of BORDERLINE

1

: being in an intermediate position or state : not fully classifiable as one thing or its opposite; especially : not quite up to what is usual, standard, or expected <borderline intelligence>

2

: exhibiting typical but not altogether conclusive symptoms <a borderline diabetic>

3

: of, relating to, being, or exhibiting a behavior pattern typical or suggestive of borderline personality disorder <a borderline patient> <borderline behavior>