Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
superordinate
adjective
/ˌsuːpərˈɔːrdɪnət/
Definition
A term that refers to a category or concept that encompasses more specific subcategories or concepts.
Examples
- The term ‘vehicle’ is superordinate to ‘car’, ‘truck’, and ‘bike’.
- In biology, ‘animal’ can be considered a superordinate category for various species.
Meaning
In hierarchical structures, a superordinate term is more general than the terms it relates to, which are known as subordinate terms.
Synonyms
- general
- overarching
- higher-level
