borderline

1 of 2

adjective

bor·​der·​line ˈbȯr-dər-ˌlīn 

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 (such 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

borderline

2 of 2

adverb

: almost, nearly

The decorations were borderline tacky.

She was borderline diabetic.

… getting this close to such a vibrant music town without checking it out is borderline criminal.

—Rusty Pate

He played an arrangement some fiddlers have called borderline impossible with a breathless passion to a last note that faded into the heavens.

—Rich Landers

Synonyms

Adjective

• frontier
• marginal

Adverb

• 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

Examples of borderline in a Sentence

Adjective

In borderline cases like these, the best course of action is difficult to determine.

As a borderline diabetic, Lara is able to control her blood sugar levels solely through diet.

Adverb

The movie is only borderline funny.

your answer was borderline rude, so I would advise you to be more diplomatic in the future

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

These tasty morsels are glazed with a sticky sweet cola- and soy sauce-mixture that packs a borderline obscene amount of garlic (six whole cloves!). —Samantha MacAvoy, Good Housekeeping, 18 Jan. 2023

Four large and filling barbecue pork buns were a borderline preposterous $8. —oregonlive, 7 Jan. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1925, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing borderline

• borderline personality disorder

Kids Definition

borderline

adjective

bor·​der·​line

-ˌlīn

1

: situated between two points or states

2

: not quite normal or acceptable

Medical Definition

borderline

1 of 2 adjective

bor·​der·​line

-ˌlīn

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

borderline

2 of 2 noun

: a person affected with borderline personality disorder