twilight zone
Americannoun
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the lowest level of the ocean that light can reach.
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an ill-defined area between two distinct conditions, categories, etc., usually comprising certain features of both; an indefinite boundary.
a twilight zone between fantasy and reality.
noun
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any indefinite or transitional condition or area
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an area of a city or town, usually surrounding the central business district, where houses have become dilapidated
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the lowest level of the ocean to which light can penetrate
Etymology
Origin of twilight zone
First recorded in 1905–10
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Down in the backrooms twilight zone, there’s a glitchy-looking wall splashed over with distorted “McKee Road” signs.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2026
"It almost felt like being in the twilight zone," he added.
From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2026
Together, the findings highlight how overlooked species in the ocean's twilight zone play an outsized role in shaping marine food webs and the behavior of some of the ocean's largest predators.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 28, 2025
Starbucks is facing a similar situation: No one wants to spend a lot of time there, but grab-and-go coffee is usually cheaper elsewhere, so the appeal of this twilight zone is shaky.
From Slate ● Dec. 22, 2025
Dimple felt like she was in the twilight zone.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
