semantic broadening

Semantic broadening occurs when the meaning of a word expands over time to include a wider range of related concepts or things. For example, originally "girl" referred specifically to a young female child, but over time it has also come to be used for young women of any age, broadening its meaning. This process allows words to adapt as their common usage evolves, often reflecting changes in culture or society. Essentially, semantic broadening makes a word more inclusive or general in its meaning, encompassing more instances or ideas related to its original sense.