The phrase "overriding theme" refers to the main or most important idea that is consistently present and influences all other aspects within a particular context or subject matter. Full definition
I believe that last year's overriding theme of the dollar carry trade along with the reverse correlation between the US Dollar and the S&P 500 ended the first week of December. (thereformedbroker.com)
If there is one overriding theme throughout the biblical narrative, it is this: God is sovereign above all. (religion.blogs.cnn.com)
Taken from an even broader perspective, most of the major developments within food science and ingredient technology as seen at IFT 17 were united by a single overriding theme: the quest for clean labeling. (projectnosh.com)