PsychologyJuly 29, 2026
liminality
lim-uh-NAL-i-tee
Definition
A psychological or transitional state of being in-between stages, where an individual is no longer in their previous life phase but has not yet fully integrated into a new, subsequent one.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Latin 'limen', meaning 'threshold', and entered English in the early 20th century, primarily through anthropological studies of rites of passage.
In the news
The article uses liminality to describe the 'in-between' state cancer patients experience, where they struggle to reconcile their former identity with the reality of living as a patient and survivor.
From diagnosis to treatment: patients’ attitudes toward cancer care
Read the full article ↗Frontiers