Lumpers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term used to describe individuals who categorize items broadly rather than distinctly
2. Referring to those who group entities based on general similarities instead of specific differences
3. Denoting people who prefer an overarching classification approach rather than meticulous distinctions

Etymology: "Lumpers" is the plural of "lumper," which is formed simply from the noun "lump" and the suffix "-er," meaning someone who does a particular thing. The idea behind the word is that such a person gathers many separate items into one heap, ignoring fine differences, in contrast to a "splitter" who divides things into ever smaller categories. The pairing is most familiar from scientific taxonomy, where the two camps have long argued over how many species to recognise. The suffix has a long lineage. It descends from a Proto-Germanic ending that became Old English "-ere," which was used to name people by their occupation or habit, such as "baker" or "hunter." The same ending entered Middle English through Old French "-ier," itself from Latin "-arius." So the word is a native English compound in its base, while its agent ending is an old inheritance from Latin.