borderline

[ bawr-der-lahyn ]
/ ˈbɔr dərˌlaɪn /

adjective

on or near a border or boundary.
uncertain; indeterminate; debatable: not an alcoholic, but a borderline case.
not quite meeting accepted, expected, or average standards.
approaching bad taste or obscenity: He made several borderline remarks that offended them.

noun

a person suffering from borderline personality.

Origin of borderline

First recorded in 1865–70; border + line1

Example sentences from the Web for borderline

British Dictionary definitions for borderline

borderline
/ (ˈbɔːdəˌlaɪn) /

noun

a border; dividing line; line of demarcation
an indeterminate position between two conditions or qualities the borderline between friendship and love

adjective

on the edge of one category and verging on another a borderline failure in the exam