liminality

American  

[lim-uh-nal-i-tee] / ˌlɪm əˈnæl ɪ ti /

noun

Anthropology.

1. the transitional period or phase of a rite of passage, during which the participant lacks social status or rank, remains anonymous, shows obedience and humility, and follows prescribed forms of conduct, dress, etc.

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Usage

What does liminality mean? Liminality is a state of transition between one stage and the next, especially between major stages in one’s life or during a rite of passage. The concept of liminality was first developed and is used most often in the science of anthropology (the study of human origins, behavior, and culture). In a general sense, liminality is an in-between period, typically marked by uncertainty. Example: After graduation, many students find themselves in a state of liminality before they’re fully established in the workplace.

Etymology

Origin of liminality

< Latin līmin- (stem of līmen ) threshold + -al ¹ + -ity

Explanation

Liminality is a quality of being in between two places or stages, on the verge of transitioning to something new. There's a liminality to the brief moment between being asleep and being fully awake. Periods of liminality are transitional, sometimes disorienting, and frequently involve waiting for something new to begin. A good example is the summer after high school graduation; whether you're starting college in the fall or looking for a job, you're on the verge of crossing a threshold into a new stage of your life. Liminality is rooted in this idea of a threshold (limen in Latin), a kind of doorway between the past and the future.

Example Sentences

Liminality, as it’s understood, provides refuge to the hazy middle ground that exists far enough away from where you started and not quite where you need to be.

From Washington Post • Apr. 1, 2021

Liminality refers to something – or someone – that sits on the boundary between two things; it’s a middle ground between polar opposites.

From The Guardian • Aug. 26, 2017