# borderline

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈboɹ.dɚˌlaɪn/ · frequency rank #18,506

## Definitions
1. Nearly; not clearly on one side or the other of a border or boundary, ambiguous.
2. Of questionable taste or acceptability; approaching bad taste.
3. Exhibiting borderline personality disorder.

## Etymology
From border + line.

## Easily confused with
- **bordering** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bordering-vs-borderline)

## Common misspellings (15)
`bborderline`, `bodrerline`, `bordderline`, `bordelrine`, `borderilne`, `borderlien`, `borderlinne`, `borderlline`, `borderlnie`, `borderrline`, `bordreline`, `boredrline`, `borrderline`, `broderline`, `obrderline`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/borderline