borderline personality disorder

noun

: a personality disorder that is marked by unstable, intense emotions and mood with symptoms including instability in interpersonal relationships and self-image, fear of abandonment, and impulsive or unpredictable behavior and that has an onset during adolescence or early adulthood
Like others with borderline personality disorder, she had intense and unstable relationships with people that veered from adoration to intense hatred and jealousy the moment she felt the merest slight.Richard A. Friedman
Borderline personality disorder afflicts an estimated 1.3 percent of U.S. adults.Bruce Bower
abbreviation BPD

Examples of borderline personality disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Clinicians have, however, begun to adapt psychotherapies that have proved to be effective in other, related conditions, such as borderline personality disorder. Diana Kwon, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2023 After all, borderline personality disorder in men can present differently.3 Health recognizes that not everyone who is female was born with female reproductive organs and that not everyone who is male was born with male reproductive organs. Sharon Kwon, Health, 19 Sep. 2024 Research is now shedding light on the misconceptions around conditions such as borderline personality disorder and narcissism. Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, 3 Sep. 2024 He was later diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for borderline personality disorder 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'borderline personality disorder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of borderline personality disorder was in 1970

Dictionary Entries Near borderline personality disorder

borderline

borderline personality disorder

border on

Cite this Entry

“Borderline personality disorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borderline%20personality%20disorder. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

borderline personality disorder

noun
: a personality disorder that is marked by unstable, intense emotions and mood with symptoms including instability in interpersonal relationships and self-image, fear of abandonment, and impulsive or unpredictable behavior and that has an onset during adolescence or early adulthood
Borderline personality disorder afflicts an estimated 1.3 percent of U.S. adults.Bruce Bower
abbreviation BPD
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!