umbrella term

[ uhm-brel-uh turm ]

noun

1. a word or phrase used as a unifying term under which a group of specific and related things, words, phrases, subjects, or functions belongs:

   To be clear, “encephalopathy” is an umbrella term for any brain disease, and we’re testing to find out exactly what condition you may have.

   The umbrella term “trans” includes both binary and nonbinary transgender people, as well as those who are genderqueer in other ways.

Word History and Origins

Origin of umbrella term¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Now a housekeeper in Maryland, the Bolivian national is one of at least 13 million undocumented migrants living in the US - an umbrella term that includes those who entered the US illegally, overstayed their visas or have protected status to avoid deportation.

From BBC

Advanced recycling, which is also called chemical recycling, is an umbrella term that typically involves heating or dissolving plastic waste to create fuel, chemicals and waxes — a fraction of which can be used to remake plastic.

From Los Angeles Times

That name, which might suggest broccoli, carrots or other fresh veggies as the source material, is actually just an umbrella term for plant-based oils, most of which come from oil-rich fruits or seeds.

From Salon

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, is an umbrella term describing conditions related to a buildup of fat in the liver.

From Salon

Guzmán was a devotee of Mexican regional music — an umbrella term that refers to the subgenres of country popular in different parts of Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times