umbrella

1 of 2

noun

um·​brel·​la ˌəm-ˈbre-lə How to pronounce umbrella (audio)
 especially Southern  ˈəm-ˌbre-
1
: a collapsible shade for protection against weather consisting of fabric stretched over hinged ribs radiating from a central pole
especially : a small one for carrying in the hand
2
: something which covers or embraces a broad range of elements or factors
decided to expand … by building new colleges under a federation umbrellaDiane Ravitch
3
: the bell-shaped or saucer-shaped largely gelatinous structure that forms the chief part of the body of most jellyfishes : bell entry 1 sense 3b
4
: something which provides protection: such as
a
: defensive air cover (as over a battlefront)
b
: a heavy barrage

umbrella

2 of 2

verb

umbrellaed; umbrellaing

transitive verb

: to protect, cover, or provide with an umbrella

Examples of umbrella in a Sentence

Noun The store sells Indian, Asian, and Middle Eastern foods under the umbrella of international cuisine.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Members of the Caricom regional trade bloc have been trying for months to get political actors in Haiti to agree to form an umbrella transitional unity government. Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 10 Mar. 2024 With the start of hurricane season, there are sure to be more than a few thunderstorms, so an umbrella stand is a must. Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2024 On Tuesday, Continuum publicized an agreement with the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, an umbrella group of construction worker unions, to build Fourth & Central with all union labor, including requirements that workers be hired locally. Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The wind eventually destroyed so many umbrellas that the players started requesting towels instead. Abby Aguirre, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024 Kygo’s Palm Tree umbrella includes this management arm, which works closely with Live Nation, and Palm Tree Records, a global joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment. Marc Schneider, Billboard, 1 Mar. 2024 Nex, who used he/him and they/them pronouns, identified as gender expansive, an umbrella term that describes people whose gender identity expands beyond traditional gender norms, according to the National Institutes of Health. USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024 Footage of the incident posted by the Mail Online shows Swift and her father exiting the dock at Neutral Bay Wharf, with the singer hidden under an umbrella. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2024 Now under the institute's umbrella are some initiatives that started in recent years, including a program for treating mild traumatic brain injuries in military veterans and first responders, called Building Resilience through Action in Veterans and First Responders, or BRAVE. Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
Verb
Red umbrellas became a red rain, then umbrellas again. Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 2 June 2023 In notoriously windy Palm Springs, that siting is crucial during the gusty season (April through June) when cafe umbrellas elsewhere easily topple from the gusts. R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'umbrella.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Italian ombrella, modification of Latin umbella, diminutive of umbra

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of umbrella was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near umbrella

Cite this Entry

“Umbrella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/umbrella. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

umbrella

noun
um·​brel·​la
ˌəm-ˈbrel-ə
1
: a collapsible covering for protection against weather consisting of fabric stretched over a hinged frame coming out from a center pole
especially : a small one for carrying in the hand
2
: something resembling an umbrella in shape or purpose
Etymology

Noun

from Italian ombrella "umbrella," from Latin umbella, literally, "little shade," from umbra "shade, shadow"

Legal Definition

umbrella

adjective
um·​brel·​la
: being or relating to a supplemental insurance policy that extends the coverage of an underlying policy on the same risk
an umbrella policy
umbrella liability insurance
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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