borderline

borderline — adjective

IPA/ˈbɔːdəlaɪn/
KK[bˈɔrdɚlˌaɪn]IPA/ˈbɔːrdərlaɪn/
  • borderlinepositive
  • more borderlinecomparative
  • most borderlinesuperlative

1. so close to a dividing line that it could belong on either side, or only just go

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

so close to a dividing line that it could belong on either side, or only just good enough to be accepted.

Example

The judge called the email a borderline threat and ordered extra security.

borderline + noun for barely acceptable status

After the scan, Dr. Mehta said the results were borderline normal.

be borderline + adjective for test results

Common collocations
  • borderline case
  • borderline result
  • borderline normal
  • borderline legal
  • borderline rude
  • borderline threat
Synonyms
  • marginal

    often stresses a very small difference or safety margin

  • questionable

    focuses more on doubt about quality or ethics than on a dividing line

  • unclear

    shows uncertainty, but not always the idea of only just passing

Antonyms
  • clear-cut

    clearly on one side, with no doubt about classification

  • acceptable

    plainly good enough rather than only just meeting the standard

Grammar Patterns

borderline + noun

borderline + adjective

be borderline

Usage Note

Usually appears with a result, judgment, rule, or behaviour, such as borderline normal, borderline legal, or borderline cruel. The surrounding noun or adjective shows whether it means near a dividing line or only barely acceptable.

Common Mistakes

The report was a borderline.
The report was borderline.
Borderline works as an adjective here, not as a countable noun.
The joke was a borderline rude.
The joke was borderline rude.
Do not add an article before borderline when it directly modifies another adjective.

borderline — noun

IPA/ˈbɔː.də.laɪn/
KK[bˈɔrdɚlˌaɪn]IPA/ˈbɔːr.dɚ.laɪn/

borderline — adverb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Borderline, marginal, questionable, near, and shaky can all suggest that something is close to a limit, but they are not interchangeable. Borderline often means a result, action, or judgment sits right on a dividing line or only just meets a standard. Marginal usually stresses a very small amount of safety, profit, or difference. Questionable is stronger and points to doubt about quality, honesty, or judgment rather than to a literal boundary. Near mainly shows closeness and does not itself suggest uncertainty. Shaky is more informal and suggests weakness or instability, as in a shaky excuse or a shaky agreement. If a case could reasonably be judged either way, borderline is often the best choice.

borderline ↗marginal ↗questionable ↗near ↗shaky ↗

Etymology

English

Borderline was formed in English from border and line. It first named an actual line at the edge of a region, then widened to figurative uses for test results, judgments, and situations that sit near a limit or are only just acceptable.

First known use

1907

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Adverb