borderline
[adjective]
Synonyms: doubtful, ambiguous, dubitable, equivocal, open, problematic, uncertain, unclear, undecided, unsettled

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. bor‧der‧line¹ /ˈbɔːdəlaɪn $ ˈbɔːrdər-/ adjective

1. very close to not being acceptable:
In borderline cases, the student’s coursework is considered, as well as exam grades.
The referee’s decision was borderline.

2. [usually before noun] having qualities of both one situation, state etc and another more extreme situation or state:
a borderline schizophrenic (=someone who has some signs of being mentally ill)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. borderline² noun

1. [singular] the point at which one quality, situation, emotion etc ends and another begins:
She slipped over the borderline into sleep.
on the borderline
I was on the borderline between a first- and a second-class degree.

2. [countable] a border between two countries

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

borderline
noun
BORDERLINE + NOUN case | applicant, candidate
PREP. on the ~ She's on the borderline between a first- and second-class honours degree.
~ between the borderline between myth and philosophy

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲