An umbrella item of lexis that subsumes more specific items, such as fruit including apple and orange, is called what?

• A. Hyponym
• B. Meronym
• C. Superordinate
• D. Co-hyponym

Answer: (C)

This is about how words relate in a hierarchy of meaning. When a term covers a broad category that includes more specific items, that broad term is called a hypernym, also known as a superordinate. In this sense, fruit is the umbrella category for apple and orange, so fruit is the hypernym (superordinate) of those more specific items. Hyponyms are the more specific terms themselves (apple, orange). Meronyms describe a part-whole relationship (like wheel to car), not a broad category. Co-hyponyms are siblings under the same umbrella (apple and orange share the same hypernym fruit). So the term that fits the description is the superordinate.