I believe that without qualification "linear regulator" could be just anything that regulate voltage. Usually you can easily tell from schematics around it if it's some switching IC, an LDO or a module. And if you have layout or 3d render of the board it'd be almost certain.
Otherwise the person may just ask: "where are caps, or is this thing a module or what?"
Otherwise the person may just ask: "where are caps, or is this thing a module or what?"