Phrase guide

umbrella term

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A term used to cover a broad category of things rather than a single specific item.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • “Cryptology” is an umbrella term that encompasses cryptography and cryptanalysis.
  • Today "queer" is an umbrella term for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: blanket term, hypernym

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Cantonese: 總稱 /总称 (zong2 cing1) — term covering a broad category of things
  • Chinese Cantonese: 統稱 /统称 — term covering a broad category of things
  • Chinese Mandarin: 總稱 /总称 (zǒngchēng) — term covering a broad category of things
  • Chinese Mandarin: 統稱 /统称 (tǒngchēng) — term covering a broad category of things
  • Danish: fællesbetegnelse — term covering a broad category of things
  • Dutch: verzamelnaam — term covering a broad category of things
  • Dutch: overkoepelende term — term covering a broad category of things
  • Finnish: yläkäsite — term covering a broad category of things
  • Finnish: kattotermi — term covering a broad category of things
  • French: terme générique — term covering a broad category of things
  • German: Oberbegriff — term covering a broad category of things
  • German: Sammelbegriff — term covering a broad category of things
  • Hungarian: gyűjtőnév — term covering a broad category of things
  • Hungarian: gyűjtőfogalom — term covering a broad category of things
  • Italian: termine generico — term covering a broad category of things
  • Romanian: termen generic — term covering a broad category of things
  • Russian: общее понятие (obščeje ponjatije) — term covering a broad category of things
  • Spanish: término paraguas — term covering a broad category of things
  • Swedish: samlingsnamn — term covering a broad category of things
  • Swedish: överbegrepp — term covering a broad category of things
  • Vietnamese: thuật ngữ chung — term covering a broad category of things