Which term describes an umbrella item of lexis that includes a range of more specific items, such as fruit?

• A. Hypernym
• B. Hyponym
• C. Meronym
• D. Synonym

Answer: (A)

Think of a broad category that covers a group of more specific terms. A hypernym is exactly that: a general term under which related items sit. Here, “fruit” is a hypernym because it includes apples, bananas, oranges, and other fruits. The specific items are hyponyms of fruit. A meronym describes a part of something (like wheel as part of a car), not a general category. A synonym is a word with a similar meaning. So the umbrella term describing the broader category is hypernym.