borderland

noun

bor·​der·​land ˈbȯr-dər-ˌland How to pronounce borderland (audio)
Synonyms of borderlandnext
1
a
: territory at or near a border
b
: fringe sense 3a
lives on the borderland of society
2
: a vague intermediate state or region
the borderland between fantasy and reality

Synonyms of borderland

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Examples of borderland in a Sentence

in the borderland between sleeping and waking He describes adolescence as the tumultuous borderlands between childhood and adulthood.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The proud Texan continues to honor her beloved home state — and its borderland history — with Middle of Nowhere Vol. — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026 Several echoes of the borderlands mark the menu at Mariella’s, which is as extensive as that of a full-on cantina and grill. — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 The new version continues Musgraves’ exploration of the musical traditions that connect Texas, country music and the Mexican-American borderlands — a theme that runs throughout her latest Lost Highway album, Middle of Nowhere. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 6 Oct. 2026 Trail cameras captured new images of Cinco the jaguar, one of five jaguars known to have roamed southern Arizona's borderlands. — Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for borderland

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of borderland was in 1811

Browse Nearby Words

border irrigation
borderland
Border Leicester
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Cite this Entry

“Borderland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borderland. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

borderland

noun
bor·​der·​land ˈbȯrd-ər-ˌland How to pronounce borderland (audio)
1
: territory at or near a border : frontier
2
: an unclear condition or region separating two clearly different ones
the borderland between sleeping and waking
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