Umbrella term

An umbrella term is a word or phrase that covers a broad interval or set of functions or items that all fall under a single common category. For example, cryptology is an umbrella term that encompasses cryptography and cryptanalysis, among other fields. Similarly, an umbrella organization is a central and coordinating body representing a number of smaller, separate bodies.

The closely related blanket term is a word or phrase that is used to describe multiple groups of related things. The degree of relation may vary, even have a minimal relationship, but blanket terms often trade specificity for ease-of-use; in other words, a blanket term by itself gives little detail about the things that it describes or the relationships between them, but is easy to say and remember. Blanket terms may originate as slang, and eventually become integrated into the general vocabulary.

Examples of umbrella terms

• In archaeology and anthropology:
  • Grave goods
  • Venus figurines - They extend over diverse time periods.
  • Votive deposit - They are "essentially" in every human culture/"tribe".
  • Standing stone

• Other
  • Daltonism - various color-blindness problems
  • Glaucoma - name for various conditions that damage the optic nerve
  • Intellectual property - umbrella for certain exclusive rights in intangible things
  • Non-gonococcal urethritis
  • Psychokinesis - numerous alleged psychic force abilities described under this term
  • Psychosis - describes nine distinct diagnoses
  • Sick sinus syndrome - collection of various heart disease diagnoses typically in elderly individuals
  • Transgender - any of numerous non-cisgender manifestations

Examples of blanket terms

• Racial groupings such as White, Asian, and Black
• Other racial groupings such Germanic, Iranian (a scholarly term and not the country), Slav or Bantu (many are ethno-linguistic)
• R&B, which may refer to rhythm and blues, contemporary R&B, black pop music, black ballads, hip hop, funk, Motown

Related terms

• Umbrella brand
• Umbrella fund
• Umbrella organization
• Umbrella school

See also

• Blanket terminology
• Collective noun
• Family resemblance (analytic philosophy)
• Generic antecedents

Further reading

• Random House Webster's College Dictionary. New York: Random House. 1992. 
• Cascone, The Aesthetics of Failure "..an umbrella term for alternative, largely dance-based electronic music (including house, techno, electro, drum'n'bass, ambient).."