Borderline Meaning
/ˈboɹ.dɚˌlaɪn/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjNearly; not clearly on one side or the other of a border or boundary, ambiguous.
adjOf questionable taste or acceptability; approaching bad taste.
Sentence Examples
You really ought to wash your hands of this borderline illegal work.
Layla suffered from borderline personality disorder.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her test score was ____, so the teacher decided to give her extra credit.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The doctor said his blood pressure was ____ and needed to be watched city.
Word Origin & History
From border + line.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It recalls the business case for Scotland's reopening of the Borders Railway to Tweedbank, that British Rail closed in 1969. The review says the business case for this was at best borderline, but goes on to say that the case greatly underestimated passenger demand and that the railway Scotland built has capped its capacity."
— 2023 September 6, Philip Haigh, “£30 billion plan to transform the rail network in Ireland”, in RAIL, number 991, page 25:
"She clearly has borderline and narcissistic features and she meets the criteria for a rapid cycling bipolar disorder, as well as for a generalized anxiety disorder. She has a severe binge eating disorder and has gained 65 pounds since[…]"
— 2003 December 8, Leslie Atkinson, Research Scientist at the Psychiatry Research Unit Susan Goldberg, Susan Goldberg, Attachment Issues in Psychopathology and Intervention, Routledge, →ISBN, page 192:
"Elbow deep inside the borderline
Show me that you love me and that we belong together
Shoulder deep within the borderline
Relax, turn around and take my hand"
— 1996, “Stinkfist”, performed by Tool:
"The four overlapping concepts of borderline were as follows : (1) A residual model […] (2) An affective disorder model, which considered BPD as an affective spectrum illness displaying prominent[…]"
— 2001 July 23, Howard S. Friedman, The Disorders: Specialty Articles from the Encyclopedia of Mental Health, Gulf Professional Publishing, →ISBN, page 109:
"[...] you should consider it! People with Borderline are especially affected by the unconditional affection parenting a pet can provide."
— 2014 December 16, Amber Zufelt, Chasing Butterflies: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Borderline Personality Disorder, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 40:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her test score was ____, so the teacher decided to give her extra credit.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The doctor said his blood pressure was ____ and needed to be watched city.