liminal
Say it: LIM-ih-nul /ˈlɪmɪnəl/ · adjective
What “liminal” means
Between one place, stage or state and another.
More precisely: Relating to a threshold or an in-between, transitional state.
Example: “Airports at 3 a.m. have a strange, liminal feel.”
When to use it
For thresholds or periods of transition, especially in thoughtful discussions of places and life changes.
Memory trick
Latin limen means threshold: picture standing in a doorway between two rooms.
Similar words
transitional, in-between, threshold
Where it comes from
Latin limen, 'threshold'.
Quick check
You have left school but have not yet started work, feeling between two life stages. How is this period?
settled or liminal?
Show the answer
liminal
Learn 5 new words a day in Kinquire. Each with a picture, how to say it, an example and a quick check, then spaced review so you actually keep them. Free to start.
Learn “liminal”