What term describes a transitional phase when a participant has left one place but not yet entered another?

The term "liminality" accurately describes that transitional phase where a participant is in a state of being between two stages or locations. It originates from anthropological studies and is often used to denote the ambiguous zone between established boundaries. During this phase, individuals may experience transformation or change, as they are no longer in their previous state but have not yet fully integrated into the new one.

In various contexts, such as rituals, rites of passage, or even physical spaces, liminality captures the essence of uncertainty and potentiality. It suggests that this phase can lead to new beginnings and insights as individuals navigate through the in-between space.

Other terms, while related, do not encapsulate the same depth and implications as liminality. For instance, while "threshold" can refer to the beginning point of entering a new stage, it doesn't fully signify the transitional experience itself. "Interstice" focuses more on physical gaps or spaces, and "intermediate" suggests being in the middle without the specific transformative connotation that liminality carries. Therefore, liminality is the most fitting term for describing that unique transitional experience.