hypernym

Word parts

hyper- + -onym

Noun

Singular hypernym

Plural hypernyms

1. (linguistics) A hypernym is a word or phrase that another word or phrase is an example, subset, or instance of.
   • Synonym: superordinate
   • Antonyms: hyponym and subordinate

   "Insect" is a hypernym for "ant", because an ant is a type of insect.

   Some hypernyms of the word "cat" are "mammal", "pet", "carnivore", and "quadruped".

Related words

• hypernymic
• hypernymous
• hypernymy