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

More than 6 million people in the U.S. currently live with dementia, an umbrella term for conditions affecting memory, language and other cognitive functions.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There are no cures yet for dementia, an umbrella term for cognitive disorders, of which Alzheimer’s is the most common.

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Speaking to 1Xtra's Eddie Kadi, Burna says the reaction to his comments made him realise why it was important to have an umbrella term to advance the Afrobeats movement.

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Non-binary is an umbrella term for those those who do not identify as exclusively male or female.

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It’s worth mentioning that LAB is an umbrella term for a group of bacteria that share certain characteristics, with the most notable being their ability to produce lactic acid.

Read more on Slate